KARACHI: Delay in the release of funds for various development schemes in the city and non-payment of salaries to union council employees were highlighted in the Sindh Assembly on Thursday by a Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker through his call attention notice.

Responding to the notice and speech of MQM legislator Moh­ammad Hussain Khan, Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the government had allocated initially Rs28.89 billion in the ADP 2014-15 for Karachi schemes. After reassessment, he said, the allocation exceeded Rs32 billion. Of this amount, Rs10 billion, which is almost 33 per cent of the allocation, was released, the minister said.

The amount was equal to what had been released for other districts of Sindh, because Karachi was as dear to him as any other city in the province, he added.

He said some names were mentioned by the lawmaker in his speech about release of funds to office-bearers of Pakistan Peoples Party by waving documents. But, he argued, the document shown had no value and were irrelevant. There was no mention of the names in the budgetary document volume-V, he said, adding that it was possible that someone might have mentioned the names for reference.

The minister sought cooperation of the opposition benches and said allegations should not be levelled against the government without any proof or justification.

Earlier, Mr Khan read out his call attention notice and said that no funds were released for development schemes of the constituencies in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur from where MQM lawmakers had returned. But funds of elected representatives of Karachi were being released to PPP leaders Najme Alam, Raja Aftab, Qadir Patel, who were not elected persons, in the names of schemes. So far, he said, Rs2,790 million had been released to 10 PPP-elected and non-elected persons.

The MQM lawmaker said they wanted an answer from the minister in what capacity the non-elected PPP leaders had been given funds, while many previous years uplift schemes could not be completed because of non-provision of funds.

This speech was welcomed by opposition benches by thumping of the desks.

Lawmakers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh, Saeed Khan Nizamani and PML-N legislator rose from their seats and drew attention of the house that funds were not released for development schemes in their constituencies also.

Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani said no one could be allowed to speak in violation of the rules and advised them to bring an adjournment motion in this regard.

Referring to the minister’s call for cooperation with the government, MQM lawmaker Khwaja Izharul Hasan recalled that a joint resolution had been unanimously passed by the house against blasphemy the previous day.

He said the PPP leadership ought to review its present policy. For the past three years, which included the time when the MQM was a coalition partner of the government, not a single issue had been resolved in the 51 constituencies won by the MQM, he said. Also, he added, not a single scheme duly approved by the planning and development department was implemented. Whether it was the issue of civic facilities or other basic necessities, the party was not allowed to satisfy voters that compelled the MQM to part ways with the government, he claimed.

He said if the schemes proposed and submitted by the MQM in August were not reflected in the coming budget, it would be presumed that anti-Karachi policy was being pursued and the decisions were being taken somewhere else.

Referring to the issue of union councils, Mr Hussain said that of the Rs200,000 released for each UC every month, Rs100,000 was received by additional director of the local government, while only Rs75,000 trickled down to the UC with the result that UC employees remained deprived of their monthly salaries.

He said a summary for the release of funds for the payment of their salaries had been sent by the local government department to the chief minister last month, but no decision was taken on the summary.

Local Government Minister Sharjeel Memon sought some time to respond to the issue.

Leader of opposition Shaharyar Mahar informed the house that in Taluka Lakhi Kati development fund had not been released for many months. He alleged that the fund was being utilised elsewhere. When asked about it, the TMO concerned said that no one could remove him as he was giving money to higher-ups including the local government minister, Mr Mahar said.

The minister objected to the allegation and said when he had asked the TMO about a complaint against him by Mr Mahar, the TMO said Mr Mahar wanted his share that the official was unable to arrange. The minister added that there was no justification for hurling allegations without any proof. However, he said, an inquiry into the allegations would be carried out and if any official was found involved in irregularities, he would be sent to prison.

Other business taken up during the Thursday session, which commenced at 10.50am and was adjourned at 1.45pm to reassemble on Friday at 10am, included privilege motion of Shaharyar Khan regarding breach of the privilege of the house by failure of the government to form a parliamentary committee as per resolution of the house to probe the affairs of Thar.

Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah informed the house that delay in the committee formation was due to legal complication, but the committee had already been notified on Jan 15. The committee members are Syed Sardar Shah (convener), Mohesh Mallani, Mir Hayat Khan Talpur, Nawaz Chandio of the PPP, Amir Haider Shirazi of the PML-N, Saeed Nizamani of the PML-F and Zafar Ahmad Kamali of the MQM.

On a suggestion of MQM lawmaker Sardar Ahmad, MQM legislator Poonjomal Bheel was also taken on board.

Health Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar said the government was not only providing free of cost wheat to the drought-hit people but had also made adequate arrangements to provide unprecedented health facilities at Mithi hospital which was visited by 1,700 to 1,800 people on a daily basis.

The adjournment motion of Mohammad Hussain of the MQM about water scarcity in Karachi district west was not taken up for discussion as it was not granted by the house when put to vote.

The house was informed that the governor gave assent to 13 bills. The Sindh Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Bill 40 of the 2014 was introduced but consideration of the Sindh Allied Health Professional Council Bill 38 of 2014 was deferred to Friday.

Erum Khalid of the PPP congratulated the house on the verdict of the Sindh High Court to send Anjali — a minor girl belonging to the Hindu minority community — to Darul Aman until she reached the age of 18. The case, she said, was pursued by the women parliamentary caucus in accordance with the recently introduced Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Bill.

The lawmaker demanded punishment for those who were witness to the unlawful marriage of the minor girl.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015

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