30 April 2005	Saturday	20 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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SHIKARPUR, April 29: Mir Babal Khan Bhayo, a close aide to the sacked revenue minister of Sindh, Mr Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, and other members of the district council, Shikarpur, have appealed to the chairman of National Accountability Bureau, Lt-Gen Muneer Hafiz, to order an inquiry into the misuse of public money by the district nazim and the district coordiantion officer.

Speaking at a press conference along with Aqeel Abbas Soomro, Agha Abdul Rehman Khan, Dr Ali Ahmed Memon, Safdar Hussain Jatoi and others, Mr Bhayo alleged that the district nazim was involved in corruption and misuse of funds while the DCO and other officers were violating rules and regulations.

Replying to a question, Mr Bhayo held the district nazim responsible for creating a mess to sabotage the local government system and pressuring district council members to support him to achieve his ulterior motives.

However, they said that the district nazim and his subordinate officers would not be allowed to violate the rules.

Meanwhile, talking to newsmen in his office, District Nazim Mohammad Arif Mahar denied the allegations levelled against him by some members and claimed that funds were utilized for development schemes proposed by the members of the district council.

MEETING: Differences between the members of the two rival groups belonging to district nazim and the naib nazim could not be resolved on Friday.

At a meeting, chaired by the presiding officer number two, Inayatullah Umrani, members discussed development schemes under the District Social Development Plan (DSDP) and the Annual Development Programme.

The district council decided with majority to constitute an 11-member support committee to recommend new schemes and advised members to submit their proposed schemes relating to health and education purposes within two days so that funds could be released.

The members were warned that in case of delay, funds could lapse.

The district officer education works, Mohammad Bachal Memon, informed the council that under the DSDP, Rs52.2 million have been allocated for health and education sectors.

The council also decided to approach provincial and federal governments to provide special funds for union councils so that they could be able to carry out development works independently in their respective areas.

District council members expressed concern over the attitude of district naib nazim, Zafar Ali Shaikh, and alleged that his actions were causing differences between district council members, citizens and district officers by levelling charges of corruption.

The members termed the session presided over by convenor Zafar Ali Shaikh on April 25, illegal.

Earlier, when proceedings started, a member, Aqeel Abbas Soomro, boycotted the session while another member Nasir Usto strongly opposed the formation of the support committee.