Latest news with #Ibadullah
Express Tribune
25-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Rs192b supplementary budget passed
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday approved a supplementary budget of Rs192.74 billion for the current fiscal year (2024-25), clearing 62 funding demands covering additional departmental expenditures. The move sparked a backlash from opposition parties, who staged a fiery protest and a walkout, decrying the move as evidence of the provincial government's flawed planning and faulty economy. Speaker Babar Saleem Swati presided over the session, which quickly turned contentious after he invoked special powers to bulldoze opposition cut motions and fast-track the budget. Opposition members, branding the exercise a matter of "disastrous policy failure", alleged this marked the 14th supplementary budget under PTI's 13-year rule. They lambasted the frequent recourse to such budgets, arguing that when unchecked expenditures balloon year after year and questioning the government's proclaiming of a surplus. Dr Ibadullah, Leader of the Opposition, waded into the debate with figures. "Surplus doesn't fit the bill," he said, pointing to the staggering provincial debt rising from Rs150 billion to Rs800 billion under successive PTI administrations. He questioned the logic of approving patchwork budgets when nearly a third of development funds had gone unspent and alleged Rs200 billion in financial irregularities per the auditor general's findings.
Express Tribune
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P govt employees protest for pay, perks
USC employees had launched a sit-in in the federal capital, protesting against the government's plans to close the organisation under its rightsizing initiative last month. PHOTO: FILE Government employees from across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa staged a protest at Assembly Chowk on Monday, demanding a pay raise in line with inflation, a 30 per cent disparity allowance similar to the federal model, and the implementation of a minimum monthly wage of Rs50,000. Protesters blocked Khyber Road for all types of traffic, leading to significant disruptions in the city. Carrying placards and banners, the demonstrators chanted slogans against the provincial government. They criticized the recent pay and pension increases10 per cent and seven percent respectivelyas insufficient in the face of soaring inflation. The protesters demanded a 30 per cent disparity allowance similar to federal employees, a 50 per cent increase in salaries in line with inflation, a minimum wage of Rs50,000. They also demanded transition of CP Fund employees to the GP Fund and withdrawal of the recently imposed pension reform laws. Opposition leader in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Dr Ibadullah, joined the protest and assured the demonstrators that their demands were legitimate. He pledged to raise their concerns on the floor of the provincial assembly and give voice to their grievances in the legislative forum. The protest caused major traffic jams on GT Road, creating hardships for commuters in the sweltering heat. Attempts at negotiation between the police and protest leaders failed, prompting the deployment of additional police forces. Law enforcement agencies ultimately resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the crowd. Following the police action, the protesters disbanded, and traffic was gradually restored. Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secretary General Muhammad Humayun Khan strongly condemned the use of tear gas and violence against protesting government employees at the Assembly Chowk, calling the incident deeply disturbing and unacceptable. He said the PPP denounces the brutal treatment meted out to government workers who were merely demanding a raise in their salaries. "The scenes from Assembly Chowk are painful. Those seeking rightful wage increases should not be treated like enemies," he remarked. Criticizing the PTI-led provincial government, Humayun Khan said it is incapable of delivering anything beyond exploitation. "Why is the government troubled by demands for fair wages? Even during tough economic times, the PPP increased salaries of public servants," he added. He further stated that lower-grade employees have fallen below the poverty line and that economic exploitation of government workers will only hinder national progress. "We recognize the protesters' democratic right and stand in solidarity with them," Khan affirmed. He condemned the use of tear gas and batons, particularly against women protesters, terming it a reprehensible act. "Public servants are not enemies - they are poor Pakistanis asking for their rights. The government's violent response is absolutely intolerable." Khan called on the provincial government to accept the legitimate demands of the employees and to immediately release those who have been arrested. "Every citizen has the right to peaceful protest. It should never be suppressed through force," he concluded.
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P Opposition rejects budget, cites failures
Opposition parties in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have outright rejected the provincial budget for the fiscal year 202526, expressing deep reservations over its substance. In stark contrast, government members lauded the budget, hailing it as the "best in the province's history." Leader of the Opposition, Dr Ibadullah, speaking on the floor of the House, criticized the budget by highlighting the province's heavy reliance on external sources. "Only seven per cent of the province's revenue is internally generated, while 93 per cent depends on federal transfers and loans," he said. "Government expenditures make up 99 per cent while development spending is only 1 per cent. This is the 12th and likely the last budget of PTI's rule." He criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for failing to fully utilize Annual Development Program (ADP) funds during its 12-year rule. "There's a lot of activity on social media, but the reality on the ground is that the province lies in ruins," he added. Dr Ibadullah also made references to international and regional politics, praising the army for its response to Indian aggression and expressing solidarity with Iran. Addressing the development allocations, he noted: "Though Rs538 billion has been earmarked for development, this is not a surplus budget as claimed. The figures are misleading, and the public is being deceived." He pointed out the provincial debt ballooning from Rs166 billion during the ANP era to Rs800 billion under PTI, amounting to a 600 per cent increase. He called out failures in flagship projects such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and raised corruption allegations related to the Kohistan, Malam Jabba, and Billion Tree Tsunami scandals. "Rs31 billion have been recovered from the Kohistan scam alone due to the Speaker's efforts," he claimed. He also lamented the overall state of education and healthcare in the province, saying that 30 per cent of schools lack basic facilities and a large percentage of students struggle with basic subjects like Urdu and mathematics. In higher education, he accused universities of mass hiring and lack of research output, while also claiming that 60 per cent of Basic Health Units (BHUs) are non-functional. "Health cards are being politicized, and hospitals are in a dire state. Tell us one positive achievement," he demanded.
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Rs40b Kohistan scandal: investigators 'complicit'
Leader of the Opposition in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Dr. Ibadullah, has alleged that individuals investigating the massive Rs40 billion financial scandal in Kohistan are themselves involved in the corruption. He further claimed that the province's Chief Executive remains unaware of the situation. Addressing an emergency press conference at the provincial assembly, Dr Ibadullah stated, "In this province, not even a peon can be transferred without money changing hands. Yet the Chief Executive claims ignorance of a scandal worth billions." He further alleged that the very individuals tasked with investigating the scandal are themselves complicit in the corruption. Ibadullah was accompanied by MPA Sajjadullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), who also represents Kohistan. The opposition leader drew comparisons with the 2014 Panama Papers controversy, noting, "At that time, PTI leaders raised a storm over Rs3 billion. Now, under their own government, Rs40 billion has vanished in just six years." He questioned the potential use of the embezzled funds, suggesting, "Was this money used to fund the Islamabad march, the May 9 agitation, or opposition to the Army Chief's appointment?" He directly accused the province's Chief Executive of involvement in the scandal, criticizing his silence on the issue. "Those in PTI who once couldn't afford a rickshaw now own commercial plots worth billions in Islamabad," he claimed. He praised the Speaker of the Assembly for referring the Kohistan scandal to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for investigation, but called it an example of institutional failure. He pointed to the involvement of the Communication and Works (C&W) Department, the Accountant General's office, and the Finance Department.
