Opposition demands reconstitution of NFC

Published June 14, 2020
PPP provincial president Humayun Khan speaks at the multiparty conference in Peshawar on Saturday. — White Star
PPP provincial president Humayun Khan speaks at the multiparty conference in Peshawar on Saturday. — White Star

PESHAWAR: A multiparty conference called by the Pakistan Peoples Party on Saturday demanded of the federal government to re-constitute the National Finance Commission saying the constitutional forum should have members with domiciles of the respective provinces to properly raise voice for the rights of their federating units.

The moot was held here with PPP provincial president Mohammad Humayun Khan in the chair to discuss the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Covid-19 pandemic, federal budget and state of education.

The participants included Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl provincial chief Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman and general secretary Maulana Attaul Haq Darvesh, Awami National Party provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak, PPP provincial general secretary Faisal Karim Kundi, Senator Rubina Khalid, Jamaat-i-Islami provincial chief Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Qaumi Watan Party representative Hashim Raza, National Party provincial chief Mukhtar Bacha, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Intikhab Chamkani, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party representative Mukhtar Yousufzai and other political leaders.

Multiparty moot also threatens resistance over change to 18th Amendment

They held a detailed discussion on national issues before issuing a joint declaration, which rejected the federal budget for financial year 2020-21 saying the government not only disappointed its employees but also failed to offer any relief to the poverty-hit people.

The participants rejected the 10th NFC and said the commission should be re-constituted having members with domiciles of the respective provinces to raise voice for the rights of the areas they represented.

They called for an increase in the provinces’ share in the 10 NFC Award and called for the immediate holding of the Council of Common Interests meeting to remove grievances of the provinces.

The participants warned the government would face a strong resistance if it tried to make any changes to the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

They said the 18th Amendment was approved by parliament for provincial autonomy after consultation with the relevant stakeholders .

The participants expressed serious concern about the growing Covid-19 incidence in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and blamed it on the government for rejecting the opposition parties’ unconditional offer for complete cooperation to control the pandemic.

They, however, appreciated the Sindh government for taking appropriate steps to tackle coronavirus.

The participants hailed the role of doctors and other health workers in the fight against the virus and demanded the provision of personal protective equipment to the staff members of hospitals and grant of Shuhda Package to the health workers, who died in the line of duty.

They called for the early repatriation of Pakistanis stranded abroad and transportation of Pakistanis’ bodies from different countries.

The participants demanded immediate financial support for the people hit by the prolonged lockdown, especially traders.

They opposed online classes for university students and declared the exercise ‘mere joke with education’.

The participants demanded the reopening of the universities under SOPs saying access to online classes is not possible for the students in remote areas, especially in merged districts, due to poor Internet connectivity.

They expressed concern about petrol shortages in the country and blamed it on bad governance. They flayed the government for sparing the people responsible for the artificial fuel crisis.

The participants urged the government to pay Rs500 billion power royalty dues to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and waive off the three months electricity bills in line with the announcement of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

They also demanded the waiver of all federal and provincial taxes and the holding of local body elections in the province to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.

The participants asked the government to compensate traders and farmers hit by Covid-19 pandemic and locust attacks, offer gas connections and royalty to the people of the province on priority and restore durable peace in the province, especially merged districts.

Earlier, the participants in their speeches urged all opposition groups to join hands against the government and raise voice for the rights of people.

BUDGET FLAYED: QWP chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Saturday criticised the ‘historic deficit’ budget and said the federal government won’t be able to achieve its revenue target of Rs4.93 trillion in view of the prevailing circumstances.

In a statement, Mr Sherpao said the 2020-21 federal budget was a jugglery of words and that it would soon be followed by mini-budgets to the misery of the people.

He said the rulers claimed that the Covid-19 pandemic had reversed growth rate but the reality was otherwise as its performance was unsatisfactory even before the virus hit the country.

The QWP chief also flayed the government over ‘failure’ to provide relief to the inflation-hit common man.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.