May 23, 2006	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 24, 1427

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HARIPUR, May 22: The Haripur Tehsil Council on Monday approved 136 development schemes under the Annual Development Programme amid uproar in the council. The group of 23 opposition members complained that it was again deprived of its share in the development fund.

The monthly session of the tehsil council was presided over by convener Syed Ahsen Ali Shah.

Raja Ehtesham, on a point of order, thanked the provincial government for declaring the March 31 session of the council null and void and suspending the tender process of 136 uplift schemes approved by the council that day in absence of the opposition members.

However, the 29-member nazim’s group criticised the decision of the provincial government and approved the 136 schemes without allocating funds for schemes proposed by the opposition members.

The council witnessed uproar when the opposition members opposed the approval of the schemes and termed it against the essence of the Local Government Ordinance, 2000.

Scuffles and exchange of hot words were also witnessed between the two groups over delegation of powers to the tehsil nazim to make appointments and transfers of TMA employees of scales 1 to 14.

The nazim’s group adopted a resolution against Tehsil Municipal Officer Haripur Farooq Khan, accusing him of creating hurdles in the development process and demanding his transfer to some other district.

The opposition members, however, defended the TMO and said he was being opposed because he had put a check on alleged commission taking on development projects and use of official vehicles and phones for personal matters.

They said if the officer was corrupt, his opponents should provide proof of his malpractice to the council.

They said they would support the officer’s steps for the welfare of people.

The council also approved a resolution of Raja Ehtesham, demanding restriction of Afghan DPs to their camps and their repatriation to their native country.

The resolution said Afghan DPs had overtaken the entire business market, depriving local people of their livelihood and since their country was now moving towards stability, the refugees should be repatriated and until then, their business should be sealed and restricted to camp areas.