KASUR, March 14: Opposition members in the district council belonging to the PML also joined the treasury in rejecting the annual budget prepared by the district coordination officer.

In Tuesday’s budget session, described by the treasury as illegal, opposition members tore apart copies of budget for being prepared by the DCO without consulting the nazim and house. The convener had to postpone the meeting.

ARD-dominated treasury which boycotted the session said its stand against the budget issue had been vindicated.

Talking to newsmen, district nazim Rana Hayat Ahmad Khan said the DCO had not allocated even a penny for new development schemes. Moreover, he said, it was nazim’s right to prepare and present the budget under the local government system.

The DCO’s move sponsored by some ministers and advisers, he said, had hurt Musharraf’s devolution of power plan.

Convener Maqsood Sabir Ansari who belonged to the PML said he was running the house according to rules and regulations and wasn’t under any pressure.

RAIN: Rain paralysed life in the district on Tuesday. Beginning at 9am, it continued till the evening, flooding almost all busy roads having inadequate drainage