In a tumultuous session at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, treasury members declared their intention to push through the budget for the current financial year despite significant reservations. The assembly convened to discuss the budget for 2023-24, where lawmakers raised concerns over the expenditure during the caretaker government’s tenure.
According to reports, out of the allocated Rs1.35 trillion, an overwhelming Rs1.15 trillion was spent during the caretaker setup, leaving current representatives feeling sidelined in the spending process. Former Speaker of the assembly, Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, highlighted the perceived injustice, stating that the funds were utilized against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and demanded an investigation into the expenditures.
Ghani emphasized the unconstitutional nature of the caretaker government’s extended stay beyond the stipulated 90-day period and questioned the legality of their approved schemes. He called for intervention from bodies like the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to probe the caretaker government’s spending.
Laiq Mohammad Khan, an MPA, made startling allegations of corruption amounting to Rs11 billion and illegal recruitments totaling 4,500 individuals during the caretaker regime. He urged the formation of a special committee to investigate these claims and requested the postponement of budget discussions until a thorough investigation could be conducted.
Abdul Karim Khan, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Industries, Commerce, and Technical Education, criticized the federal government for withholding payments such as tobacco cess and arrears of hydel power, oil, and gas. He also accused the police of misusing funds meant for maintaining law and order against the PTI.
The opposition, led by Dr. Ibadullah Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), pledged joint opposition against the provincial government’s funding case. Dr. Khan raised questions about the allocation of funds from the divisible pool and highlighted instances of violence and insecurity in the province.
The session witnessed heated exchanges, with accusations flying from both sides. PML-N MPA Sobia Shahid alleged that the PTI government had misused nine years’ worth of provincial earnings, attributing it to recent violence in the region.
Amidst the chaos, the speaker adjourned the session until the following day due to a lack of quorum, signaling a temporary halt to the deliberations on the contentious budget.
The assembly’s determination to pass the budget despite reservations underscores the ongoing challenges facing governance and financial accountability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As calls for investigations into caretaker expenditures grow louder, the province braces for further scrutiny and potential political fallout.