‘Punjab to review PFC Award after new LG Act's implementation'
While responding to Amjad Ali Javed in Punjab Assembly Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that PML-N has always stood in favour of Local Government rights.
Earlier, Amjad Ali Javed complained that his committee cannot even pay electricity bills. Criticizing the corrupt state of banks, he said employees are not receiving their salaries. He questioned the Finance Minister, asking how much longer it will take to receive the Provincial Finance Commission Award (PFC) Award after eight years of waiting. 'Can the Finance Minister provide a clear timeframe?' he asked.
PML (N) MPA Ahmed Ahsan Iqbal while speaking on the floor of the House said that Secretary of Local Government is saying that the current situation id extremely dire. Hr also said that the Local Government has no funds left. He emphasized that the responsibilities assigned by the federation to the provinces should similarly be delegated by the provinces to municipal committees, but institutions are not receiving their due rights. He raised the question of which establishment is obstructing the implementation of third-tier governance.
The session started 1 hour 46 minutes late under the chair of the Acting Speaker Malik Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar.
During a session of the Punjab Assembly, government member Mumtaz Ali Chang delivered a fiery speech, demanding that the Crime Control Department (CCD) conduct operations in the Kacha area. He highlighted a recent incident in Nawazabad where a man named Hamza was killed, two others were injured, and one went missing due to dacoit firing. Chang stated, 'First, clean your own house. The CCD should also establish a unit in the Kacha area.' He further demanded the formation of a committee to investigate the killings of innocent people and the registration of false cases against them.
Asserting that 'justice will restore the Assembly's dignity,' Chang defended his role as a public servant, stating that he actively participates in welfare work. He praised the Chief Minister of Punjab for establishing the CCD, which has reduced fear in areas previously considered inaccessible. He also commended the peace festival organized by the Punjab Governor in the Kacha area on the 11th of this month.
Chang questioned why the CCD and Anti-Corruption Department were not conducting operations in the Katcha area despite having the authority. He alleged that police officials owning land in the region were sabotaging operations. 'If the Prime Minister and Chief Minister can go to jail, why can't the dacoits of Kacha?' he asked. He further claimed that reports indicate some notorious police officers are supporting dacoits in the area.
Acting Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar sought a report on police officials occupying land in the Katcha area, directing that it be presented in the Assembly to identify those involved. He emphasized, 'Identify the dacoits occupying the Katcha area.
Separately, Mumtaz Chang raised concerns about the loans and facilities being offered by Punjab Bank Rahim Yar Khan, stating, 'If we don't know what loans this bank is giving, how will the public know?' He urged the government to inform citizens through advertisements.
Government member Ahmed Ahsan Iqbal criticized the Bank of Punjab during the session, stating that its reports are not being presented to the Public Accounts Committee. He said, 'The Bank of Punjab always resists in this matter,' adding that the Assembly has the right to know what privileges are being given to the bank's CEO.
Meanwhile, the 26 suspended opposition members of the Punjab Assembly have been reinstated. This decision came as a result of successful negotiations between the government and the opposition following their suspension during the budget speech of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman submitted a request in the assembly for the restoration of the opposition members, upon which Acting Speaker Punjab Assembly Zahr Iqbal Channar immediately ordered their reinstatement. The assembly secretariat also issued a notification confirming the restoration.
According to details, on June 27, opposition members created a ruckus during the speech of Punjab Minister Maryam Nawaz, leading to verbal clashes and physical altercations. Following the incident, the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly suspended 26 opposition members for 15 sittings. Later, government members submitted four applications to the Speaker, requesting the Election Commission to issue disqualification notices against the opposition members.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Aafia remarks 'taken out of context', says Dar
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has clarified that his recent remarks about Dr Aafia Siddiqui's case, made in response to a question regarding ex-prime minister Imran Khan's legal situation at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, were being taken out of context. In a statement posted on X, Dar said: "Yesterday, in response to a question about Imran Khan's case at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, the reference to Dr Aafia Siddiqui's case is being taken out of context." "During the tenures of PML-N governments, we have consistently provided all diplomatic and legal assistance for Dr Aafia Siddiqui's release, and we will continue to do so until the matter of her release is resolved." Stressing the importance of respecting judicial systems, he explained that every country had its judicial and legal procedures, "which are to be respected, whether it is Pakistan or the US". "Our government's stance on the issue of Dr Aafia Siddiqui's release is clear and unequivocal," the foreign minister maintained. Currently on an official visit to the United States, FM Dar had addressed the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, DC. While responding to a question regarding former prime minister Imran Khan's imprisonment, Dar had referred to Dr Siddiqui to underscore the principle of respecting judicial processes. He said that Pakistan had not interfered in Dr Siddiqui's case because "the Americans had followed their judicial system". Similarly, he added, Imran Khan had been sentenced by Pakistan's judiciary after due legal process. "When the due process is followed, others do not have the right to interfere," he said. The remarks were sharply criticised by Dr Siddiqui's legal team, with her lawyer calling the comparison "idiotic".
Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Governor's letter sparks row
An open letter from Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif urging calamity-hit status for flood-affected districts has triggered a strong public response from the provincial government, marking the latest instance of political back-and-forth between coalition partners Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP). Governor Khan, a PPP appointee, wrote an open letter asking the provincial administration to declare Chakwal, Jhelum, and Hafizabad as calamity-hit areas. Following visits to the affected regions, he described extensive damage to roads, bridges, and homes, and urged immediate aid and official designation to accelerate rehabilitation. Punjab Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari responded publicly, suggesting the letter bypassed administrative norms. She said relief operations were already under way and led directly by the chief minister. "There was no need for a public letter," she said. "If you truly want to raise the issue, write to your own party or the federal leadership." She pointed out that Maryam Nawaz had already visited Chakwal and issued orders for relief efforts. Bukhari implied the governor's letter was more about optics than urgency, dismissing it as a symbolic gesture that added little to the ground response. In the letter to the chief minister regarding the recent heavy rains in Punjab and the damage caused by flood after his visit to the affected areas of Chakwal, Jhelum and Hafizabad, the governor called for declaring the areas as disaster hit. It called steps to repair the damage caused by the flood as soon as possible, pointing out that life in the affected cities had been severely affected. Bridges connecting cities have been broken and roads washed away, causing difficulties for the people. The houses, livestock and valuables of people have been washed away in the flood, the governor stated. This latest exchange is part of a familiar pattern between the governor and the provincial administration. In November last year, Governor Khan had criticised both the PML-N-led federal and Punjab governments over their handling of a PTI-led protest march. He condemned the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister's use of state machinery for the rally but also questioned the Punjab government's preparedness and criticised the federal response, including the widespread use of shipping containers to block roads. Bukhari, in turn, questioned the governor's priorities and suggested he seemed more focused on opposition politics. She credited Maryam Nawaz's leadership for discouraging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activities in Punjab during that period. The two sides also disagreed over appointments in higher education. Governor Khan objected to receiving only one nominee per university for vice chancellor's positions, in contrast to the required three-candidate shortlist. "My office is not a post office," he said, insisting legal protocols must be observed. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz defended the process, saying the selections were based on merit and had been thoroughly reviewed. She said any objections should be raised in writing to avoid administrative miscommunication. The information minister later denied claims that the chief minister had accused the governor of lobbying for specific candidates. While the tone of these exchanges has at times turned sharp, political observers view them as routine friction within the framework of coalition politics. Many of these episodes are seen as attempts at public point scoring rather than signs of deep division.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Nawabzada Mohsin joins PML-N
ISLAMABAD: In a move underscoring the evolving political landscape in the country, Nawabzada Mohsin Ali Khan, a former stalwart of the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), formally joined the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday. Khan, who had earlier expressed unwavering support for PTI chief Imran Khan's leadership, has now extended allegiance to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's vision, marking a notable shift in the province's political contours. The defection comes at a time of considerable flux within the political landscape, where ideological consistency often takes a backseat to strategic recalibration. During a meeting with the prime minister, accompanied by his son and several close associates, in the presence of Federal Minister Amir Muqam – who leads the PML-N's efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Khan endorsed the party's developmental agenda and pledged to advance its policies in the province. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the move and called on Khan to play an active role in strengthening the party's presence in the province. The development comes amid growing fissures within the PTI and escalating political competition across key constituencies. Khan's political journey has been marked by multiple shifts in party affiliation, reflecting a trajectory driven more by political pragmatism than ideological commitment. A longstanding political figure in Karak district, he has contested elections at both the provincial and national levels under various party banners. In the 1988 and 1990 general elections, Khan won the PF-33 (Karak-II) seat as a candidate of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), defeating Zafar Azam on both occasions. He later joined the Awami National Party (ANP) and played an active role in the 2014 Political Parties Joint Committee on FATA Reforms, advocating for constitutional integration and democratic representation in the erstwhile tribal areas. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
