PESHAWAR, June 29: The NWFP Assembly has formally approved 10 supplementary demands for grants forwarded by various departments amounting to over Rs433.8 million for 2003-04.

A demand for grant amounting to over Rs3.69 million was granted on Monday for the surplus expenditure of the provincial assembly. The demand was tabled in the House by NWFP minister for law and parliamentary affairs Malik Zafar Azam. Formal approval was granted as no cut-motion was moved by any member in this connection.

The second demand, for a surplus grant amounting to over Rs54.77 million, was also presented by the provincial law minister on behalf of the chief minister. The grant is to be spent on general administration till 30 June. Six MPAs moved cut- motions on the demand.

Israrullah Gandapur of the PPP-S said that there was a difference amounting to Rs224,000 between figures presented in the House and the figures presented in the official book of demands.

All objections to the grant were withdrawn after Malik Zafar Azam assured that he would look into this matter. The third demand amounting to over Rs6.23 million was presented before the House by provincial minister for planning and development Sirajul Haq.

The amount was to be spent on treasury, finance and local fund. Six MPAs moved cut-motions regarding the demand but later withdrew their motions, enabling the House to approve the demand.

The fourth demand worth Rs922,000 was also moved by the P&D minister. This amount was to be spent on planning and development. Eight cut motions were moved in this connection but were later withdrawn.

The fifth demand was moved by minister for information technology Hussain Ahmad Kanjo. The surplus grant amounting to over Rs1.46 million was to be spent on information technology. Five cut motions were moved against the demand.

Israrullah Gandapur said that the amount specified for the information technology sector was too meagre and it should be enhanced. Later, motions opposing the grant's approval were withdrawn.

The sixth demand was for a sum of Rs60 only for the revenue department and it was moved by the law minister on behalf of the chief minister. Eight cut-motions were moved but all objections to the grant were withdrawn and the demand was granted.

The seventh demand, for a surplus grant amounting to Rs470, was presented by food minister Fazle Rabbani Advocate. Nine MPAs, who had earlier objected to the sanctioning of the demand, later withdrew their motions.

The eighth demand was tabled for a surplus grant amounting to Rs8.06 million and it was tabled by law minister on behalf of the chief minister to be spent on interior affairs, tribal areas and civil defence. Nine MPAs had sought cut in the demand but all of them withdrew their motions and the demand was granted.

The ninth demand amounting to over Rs5.91 million was presented by the law minister on behalf of the chief minister. The amount was to be spent on prison department. 10 MPAs had moved cut motions against the demand but none of them pressed their motion and the House granted the demand.

The tenth demand was for a surplus expenditure of over Rs352.75 million that was to be on the police department, which sparked an intense debate in the House. A majority of the 11 movers of cut motions expressed their strong exception to the police department's performance and said that there was no need for the huge expenditures incurred on the police department.

Bashir Ahmad Bilour of the ANP criticized the police department's performance and termed it poor. He urged the government to introduce necessary reforms in the department.

Anwar Kamal said that if such a huge amount was spent on a department like police, the government should monitor its performance, adding that the law and order situation in the province was a major cause of concern.

Shehzada Gustasap Khan and Murid Kazim also expressed their reservations about granting the amount because of their concerns over the poor maintenance of the law and order situation in the province.

Responding to the concerns expressed by MPAs, Senior Minister Sirajul Haq lauded the performance of the police department and said that law and order situation in the province was far better than the other three provinces of the country.

He said that all complaints against any official of the police department, including complaints of corruption and misuse of power, should be brought to the notice of the provincial government, adding that the government would take stern action in this regard.

While most of the members, objecting to the sanctioning of the grant remained unsatisfied despite the senior minister's speech in support of the police department, but they withdrew their objections leading to the granting of the demand. - PPI