PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party provincial chief Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao has demanded of National Accountability Bureau to take notice of irregularities in Bus Rapid Transit project.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, he said that QWP timely pointed out anomalies in the BRT project but the ruling party was not ready to take its notice. “Now the government’s own inspection team has confirmed misuse of public money, use of substandard material, negligence on part of rulers and causes of delay in completion of the project,” he added.

Flanked by QWP leaders Tariq Ahmed Khan, Asad Khan Afridi and others, Mr Sherpao demanded fixation of responsibility to award punishment to all those involved in corruption in the project.

QWP leader asks govt to make public report of inspection team on scheme

He said that details of the inspection team’s report should be made public immediately. He said that former chief minister of the province should be questioned in that regard as he was directly responsible for it.

“We will apply for getting details of the report through right to information law if the government fails to make it public,” said the QWP leader. He said that the report proved that BRT in the existing shape was extremely dangerous.

He said that in case of any mishap due to substandard work in the project, the entire responsibility would rest with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership. He demanded of the Supreme Court to unseal the investigation report about BRT to award punishment to the corrupt elements.

The QWP leader also expressed concerns over the insufficient and delayed release of funds for tribal districts and urged the government to ensure release of Rs100 billion annually for development of the merged areas. He said that government was yet to confirm if it would spend the funds till June 2019 exclusively on the development and restoration of infrastructure in the tribal districts or in the constituencies of ministers.

The QWP provincial chief also voiced concerns over the unprecedented price hike and said that government was shelling the people with petrol, power and gas bombs. He said that people would take to streets if government did not stop increase in the prices of daily use items.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2019