PESHAWAR, May 8: The city district council on Monday ordered an inquiry into financial irregularities in the social welfare department. Convener Razaullah ordered an immediate inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the department after a woman councillor moved a resolution in the council session.

Begum Tehmas claimed that she had received serious threats not to move the resolution in the district council regarding irregularities in the purchase of sewing machines, wheel-chairs and bicycles.

“I received threats not to take up the issue in the council. I was told that consequences will be serious for you and your family,” she complained.

Begum Tehmas said that substandard equipment had been purchased and a large number of bicycles had disappeared from the store of the department.

Nazim Riaz Bacha called upon the convener to provide security to the councillor and order an inquiry into the alleged irregularities.

He said the government should identify the people who threatened the woman councillor. Other members supported the resolution.

Convener Razaullah said that the committee for social welfare department would conduct an inquiry and submit its report to the council.

The council adopted a resolution unanimously, demanding that a monthly honorarium of nazim union council should be enhanced from Rs6,000 to Rs10,000, while female and minority councillors should be paid Rs6,000 honorarium.

Mohammad Ali Safi, who moved the resolution, pointed out that Sindh, Punjab and the city district government in Quetta had been paying Rs6,000 honorarium to female and minority councillors but the NWFP government had not yet announced any such plan.

He said that under the law the city district nazim had power to recommend an honorarium for council members.

District Nazim Haji Ghulam Ali said that if the law allowed it female and minority councillors would receive an honorarium of Rs3,000 from July 1.

Regarding increase in honorarium for union council nazims, he said that the issue would be taken up with the respective department.