November 3, 2005	Thursday	Ramzan 29, 1426

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PESHAWAR, Nov 2: Oppo-sition lawmakers have criticised the provincial government for entering into fresh negotiations with Wapda and the federal government to re-determine net hydel-profit.

This, they said, amounted to surrendering the constitutional rights of province.

The opposition said the issue had already been settled under the AGN Kazi formula.

Speaking on a point of order, Anwar Kamal Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said the quantum of net hydel-profit had been settled under the AGN Kazi-formula.

“We have been asking Wapda to release Rs340 billion piled up against it. All the three parties had already agreed on net hydel-profit distribution formula, so there is no need to evolve another formula”, he added.

He was of opinion that the provincial government had abandoned the AGN Kazi-formula and its claim of Rs340 billion against Wapda by entering into fresh negotiations. He said the provincial assembly had adopted a number of resolutions calling upon Islamabad to play its role in disbursement of net hydel-profit dues to the NWFP and now the provincial government had taken a stand contrary to the wishes of the House.

Endorsing this stand, Bashir Ahmed Bilour of the Awami National Party (ANP) alleged that the government had bypassed the provincial assembly and sent a two-member committee to strike a new deal on a right which had constitutional protection. He said Senator Prof Khursheed Ahmed might be a good and learned person but he was not from the NWFP.

“How can he decide our fate. It is a matter of life and death to us. My party rejects the new committee and its deliberations on the net hydel-profit”, he added.

Abdul Akbar Khan of the PPP said there was no question of arbitration, because the NWFP had agreed on the distribution formula devised by AGN Kazi 32 years ago. He said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government had again made it a disputed issue. Mr Khan said his party was opposed to any new committee on this already settled issue. He said the opposition had always supported the MMA on the net profit issue, but the government had betrayed them. He said the government had not taken the opposition parties into confidence on its new move.

Israrullah Khan Gandapur of the PPP-S said his party was aware of the weakest stand taken by the government on this issue. “We have not sent any party member to the jirga convened by Senior Minister Sirajul Haq on the issue. We knew that the government was wasting time. It is a settled issue and should not be made disputed by entering new negotiations”. He alleged that the MMA had compromised on the rights of province. Makhdoom Mureed Kazim also was of opinion that the government had bypassed the provincial assembly.

Opposition Leader Shahzada Gistasip also opposed the government’s new stand against Wapda and hoped that treasury benches would support the opposition on its struggle for retention of AGN Kazi-formula as the yard stick for the net hydel-profit. He categorically said that his party opposed all other solutions except the AGN Kazi-formula in respect of net hydel-profit distribution.

Responding to the objections raised by the opposition lawmakers, Health Minister Inyatullah denied that the government had compromised on the rights of province or it had abandoned its earlier stand. He said there was a dispute between the government and Wapda on this issue and Wapda was giving different interpretation to the AGN Kazi-formula. According to Wapda, he added, it had paid all the net hydel-profit to the province.

Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan said if the opposition members wanted to continue a debate on the issue they should bring an adjournment motion.

Earlier, speaking on a call attention notice, Shagufta Naz said the building of the Government High School No.2 was about to collapse but the government had not made any alternative arrangement for its students. She said the students were obliged to take classes in the dangerous building. She demanded of the government to make early and quick alternative arrangements for the students.

Responding to the move, Education Minister Fazal Ali said he had directed the EDO concerned to secure a building on rent for the purpose.

Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Nov 11.

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