March 03, 2008	Monday	Safar 24, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 2: When the newly-elected members of the National Assembly move into their furnished apartments in the Parliament Lodges (PLs) they would find them disagreeable.

Dirty carpets, torn curtains, broken furniture and paint peeling off the walls are what would greet them there, say keepers of the lodges.

“It is for the first time that no funds were released for renovating and repairing the lodges before the new occupants arrive,” sources in the lodges management told Dawn.

They said the Capital Development Authority (CDA), which looks after the lodges, had submitted a Rs230 million renovation plan along with PC-I to the finance division but the funds were refused.

Obviously, the caretakers didn’t care about the past practice.

The renovation plan was prepared in pursuance of a decision of the National Assembly Standing Committee of House and Library which found the lodges dirty and in disrepair.

The committee had also approved proposals to replace old window-type airconditioners with split units and install new elevators in the lodges.

According to the sources the CDA’s finance wing too followed the government in turning down the management’s request for a small amount for the repair and whitewashing of suites.

The CDA argued that although the maintenance of the lodges was its responsibility it was not supposed to spend its own money on that.

It was fair that the government should pay for the upkeep of its building.

The management collects a monthly rent of Rs4,000 from the occupants but the entire amount goes to the federal treasury.

“We have asked the government to provide funds from the rent amounting to over Rs75 million deposited to the federal treasury during last three years but to no avail,” a CDA official said.

Meanwhile, the newly-elected MNAs are engaged in a tug-of- war over the allotment of lodges as there is a shortfall of 100 suites. Everyone is trying to get the better one.

“Most in demand are the suites which offer a view of the picturesque Margalla Hills — preferably on the ground floor,” a source said.

The National Assembly Secretariat allots the suites, usually in one go.

It had asked the present occupants to vacate the lodges by Feb 25 and is reportedly waiting for the Election Commission of Pakistan to notify the election result before undertaking the exercise.

However, over a dozen newly elected MNAs are learnt to have managed to get allotments of the suites.

Sources in the secretariat said the allotment process posed problems as there are 442 parliamentarians in all and only 358 suites in the lodges.

“We are expecting a strong reaction from those who are left out,” an official of NA Secretariat said, informing that two new blocks are proposed to be added to the Parliament Lodges.

He said the secretariat had decided that sitting senators and the parliamentarians who have been re-elected will retain their suits.

The apartment occupied by the losers will be given to the winner from the same constituency.