LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the Punjab government to allocate funds under the head of development schemes among the parliamentarians elected on minority seats without discrimination and irrespective of their party affiliation.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah passed the order disposing of an intra court appeal moved by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s MPA (reserved seat) Shunila Ruth questioning discrimination in disbursement of development funds among the parliamentarians on minority seats.

The petitioner also challenged dismissal of a writ petition by a single bench.

Representing the petitioner, Advocate Sheraz Zaka argued that MPAs of the ruling PML-N had exclusively been granted funds and their development projects were being given preference over the schemes of opposition party’s MPAs.

He said the government every year allocated quota for MPAs elected on seats reserved for minorities so the funds could be utilised for development schemes for the minorities.

A representative of the provincial assembly speaker told the court that the assembly had no role in distribution of the funds among the MPAs.

He said the government through finance department allocated funds to the MPAs under the head of development schemes.

The bench disposed of the appeal and directed the government to treat all the minorities MPAs equally while distributing development schemes and funds.

Published in Dawn December 21st, 2016