PESHAWAR, Aug 27: Treasury and opposition members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday offered fateha for ‘innocent people’ killed in drone strikes in North Waziristan Agency and expressed solidarity with Muslim minority in Myanmar, but overlooked 19 passengers killed in the Aug 16 sectarian attack in Mansehra.

However, a joint resolution to condemn US drones attacks in tribal area couldn’t be tabled over poor draft.

Speaker Kiramatullah Khan Chagharmatti directed its movers, Noor Sahar, Jaffar Shah and Asif Bhatti, to rewrite and table the resolution today (Tuesday). It is likely to be passed in the day.

Only senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour said drone attacks were condemnable but asked lawmakers that should also denounce those elements who pulled out passengers from the buses and sprayed them with bullets and those who recently attacked Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra.

Pakistan Muslim League-Q MPA Nighat Yasmeen Orakzai on a point of order drew chair attention towards killing of innocent people in drone strikes in North Waziristan. She also suggested that a joint delegation of MPAs visit Miramshah for meeting tribal elders.

She demanded creation of Qabilistan province comprising seven agencies and six Frontier Regions to end sense of deprivation of the people of Fata.

Mr Orakzai said resolution regarding Qabilistan Province had been submitted in the assembly secretariat to be tabled during current session.

Opposition leader Akram Khan Durrani supporting Ms Orakzai’s point of order narrated plight of Myanmar Muslims and killing of innocent people in drone strikes. He said he had already submitted an adjournment motion with the assembly secretariat on drone attacks and impending military operation in Waziristan.

He said the US ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office to protest drone strikes but the US didn’t take the protest seriously and continued with drone attacks.

He said that the US attacks had contaminated sources of drinking water and dried orchards in Waziristan tribal region.

He said tribal people had become mentally sick and thousands of families had fled North Waziristan Agency to Bannu district over military operation fears.

“Houses in Bannu have been occupied and displaced persons are now looking for tents,” he said.

PML-Q parliamentary leader Qalandar Lodhi, PPP parliamentary leader Abdul Akbar Khan and PML-N members Inayatullah Khan Jadoon and Javed Abbasi also spoke on the point of order and supported to move joint resolution against drone strikes.

On another point of order minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour informed the house that police stations in Naran and Kaghan Valleys were being strengthened in the wake of killing of people at Babusar Top.

Four bills regarding Rescue Service Ordinance, establishment of Borstal Institutions, disabled persons (employment and rehabilitation) (amendment) and apprenticeship (amendment), 2012 were introduced in the house.

Law and parliamentary affairs minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah presented audit report on account of 24 district governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the year 2011-12. MPA Abdul Akbar Khan on a point of order opposed presentation of the document. He was of the view that auditor general did not present audit reports of the district governments for the last eight years.

He said under the Constitution, the auditor general was bound to clear backlogs before presenting audit report for the year 2011-12. He said the district governments had utilised billions of funds during the past eight years and auditor general should ensure completion of the audit reports of the previous years. MPA Sakibullah Khan Chamkani supported Abdul Akbar.

Law minister Arshad Abdullah assured the chair that the finance department would approach the auditor general office to complete the audit of the remaining eight years. The house referred a privilege motion to the relevant committee of the house regarding absence of special secretary of establishment department in meetings.