PESHAWAR, Oct 10: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday sought comments from the provincial government in a writ petition filed by four MPAs, challenging the distribution of funds amounting to Rs1.2 billion under the Tameer-i-Sarhad Programme and Rs1 billion special package by the chief minister.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan and Justice Dost Mohammad Khan, directed the government to file comments by Oct 23, the next hearing date.

The bench was informed that the provincial government was yet to file comments in the case.

The petition has been filed by MPAs Ikramullah Shahid from Mardan, Pir Mohammad Khan from Shangla, Saeed Khan from Charssada and Zar Gul from Mansehra.

Barrister Masood Kausar appeared for the petitioners and contended that the chief minister in the last year of his tenure had started treating members of the assembly in a discriminatory manner, ignoring principles of equality and equity.

Justice Dost Mohammad Khan observed social values had been changing. He added that 30 years ago Muslim League, the PPP and Congress parties had some ideology and their members’ loyalty could not be purchased even for Rs10 million.

Justice Dost Mohammad regretted when he heard that the development schemes were awarded in exchange for 25 per cent commission. The petitioners said that Rs1.2 billion was earmarked for the Tameer-i-Sarhad Programme (TSP), adding that a billion rupees more was allocated under the Special Package for the development of the NWFP. The money, he said, was supposed to be distributed among all directly-elected members of the provincial assembly.

He said that under the TSP, the chief minister’s favourites had been given as much as Rs30 million, other members got Rs10 million while the petitioners were totally denied any such funds.

The petitioners claimed that the chief minister had not treated all assembly members equally last year and funds for metalled roads, measuring about 900 kilometres, were distributed among his favourites. The petitioners claimed that the chief minister had allocated Rs2545 million for development schemes in Bannu, his home town.