Covid-19 spending issue echoes in KP Assembly

PESHAWAR: The issue of Covid-19 spending and alleged harassment of traders in the name of implementing the standing operating procedures (SOPs) for the coronavirus once again echoed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday.

Through an adjournment motion, opposition leader in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Akram Khan Durrani belonging to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) demanded the holding of detailed discussion on the issue.

The adjournment motion was admitted for discussion even though the treasury benches opposed it. Akram Durrani said the administration and the police often misused their powers by implicating traders in cases under the corona SOPs. He maintained that there were reports that irregularities were committed in corona spending so the matter should be discussed in the House.

Minister for Labour and Culture Shaukat Yousafzai said the corona pandemic had hit the entire world and the government had to save the people by taking steps He believed that raising objections to corona related spending was unjustified in view of the emergency situation.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information and Higher Education Kamran Bangash said the submission of the adjournment motion at such a crucial time was unjustified. He even accused the speaker of giving more time and importance to the opposition.

Former Law Minister Sultan Muhammad Khan, who spoke for the first time in the House after being sacked, argued that the adjournment motion could be admitted if it was supported by 14 members, but an issue, which had already been discussed in the House, should not be taken up for further discussion. At this, the speaker said the issue was not discussed in the current session.

Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, while taking notice of power loadshedding and low voltage in the province, said the federal government and the Water and Power Development Authority officials would be called to the assembly after the budget session to discuss the shortage of employees in Pesco and issue of outdated transmission lines.

He said Pesco was facing 70 percent shortage of manpower and supply lines were outdated and the province was deprived of its due share in total power generation. He said the matter would be taken up with the Water and Power Ministry.

On a complaint of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Fazal Elahi, the speaker directed the Pesco chief to provide alternative supply to the consumers in Hazarkhawni till completion of their power supply line.

Earlier, dua and fateha was offered for the victims of Ghotki train accident. The speaker also read out the fact-finding report of police officer’s maltreatment with Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) from Bajaur, Ajmad Khan. The report said SHO Ebad Wazir was found guilty of misconduct and breach of privilege of an elected public representative. It recommended departmental disciplinary action against the SHO.

Giving his ruling on Babar Salim Swati’s point that angiography be included in the medical treatment facility under Sehat Insaf Card and the minister, secretary and DG Health should arrange angiography facility at hospitals in Hazara division through Sehat Insaf Card, Mushtaq Ghani said it was ironic that there was no such facility in the entire Hazara division and patients have to travel to Peshawar or other areas.

The members also spoke about inclusion of their schemes in the budget before the speaker prorogued the session sine die. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA from Nowshera, Ikhtiar Wali, accusing the speaker of not giving time to the PML-N.

Demanding resignation of the speaker, Ikhtiar Wali accused him of discrimination against his party. While the speaker asked the protesting MPA to take back his words as “How would I give you the floor when you refuse to accept me as a speaker?”