KP Assembly passes Rs1.7tr budget as opposition withdraws all cut motions

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Thursday passed the Rs1.7 trillion budget for the upcoming fiscal year after members of the opposition withdrew their all cut motions.

Finance minister Aftab Alam Afridi tabled the Finance Bill 2024–25 during a session chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.

The opposition members withdrew their cut motions about 66 demands for grants for various departments.

They, however, complained about the poor law and order situation in the province when a demand for grants was moved for the home department.

Members complain about ‘poor’ law and order situation, enforced disappearances

MPA Adnan Khan of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl complained that the law and order situation in his Bannu constituency was volatile even after the completion of a security operation against militancy in the Janikhel area.

He demanded an in-camera briefing for lawmakers on the security situation in the province.

The lawmaker complained about the growing incidence of extortion demands.

“Everyone is receiving calls for extortion. The law and order situation is delicate, so a briefing about it should be held for us in camera,” he said.

JUI-F member Mohammad Riaz Khan also raised questions about the poor security situation in the province and said people couldn’t leave houses in Kurram tribal district after 7pm.

He added that the number of targeted attacks on people travelling on the main road in the area had surged.

Mr Khan said the local administration’s demand for funds to install CCTV cameras on the road should be met without delay.

MPA Rashad Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz complained about enforced disappearances, insisting the people were being picked up with authorities keeping mum about their whereabouts.

He said the provincial government should effectively take up the issue with the relevant quarters.

The lawmaker asked the provincial government about its plans for the recovery of missing persons.

The speaker said several departments were working for people’s security.

“We’re here not to protect the relevant institutions over the issue of enforced disappearances. They should give explanations for such things,” he said.

Finance minister Afridi asked the opposition to identify missing persons for the necessary government action.

During a discussion on cut motions about demands for grants for police, both treasury and opposition members criticised the department over the rising incidence of crimes, especially mobile snatching.

Adviser to the chief minister on housing Dr Amjad Ali informed the house about the deployment of police personnel for the protection of peace committee members.

He also disclosed that around 800 police officials were performing security duty in hujras of elders and even harvesting wheat in Swat district. He urged lawmakers to manage their security themselves.

JUI-F member Lutfur Rehman said if the house agreed, the KP Police Act, 2017, should be amended.

The speaker insisted that bills were introduced in the assembly at the behest of the establishment.

“If lawmakers don’t go through bills, they will have flaws,” he said.

Mr Swati said police were answerable to the house for its failure to maintain law and order. He later adjourned the session until 2pm today [Friday].