LAHORE – Opposition members of the provincial assembly (MPA) in the Punjab Assembly (PA) on Wednesday while criticising the provincial government’s policy of blessing its leaders in the provincial revenue department, declared Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Chaudhry Nisar Ali ‘a powerful MNA’ influencing appointment of patwaris in the department.
During question hour proceedings in the PA, Opposition MPA Dr Samia Amjad said that only Nisar was a strong MNA from Rawalpindi without whose approval, no patwari could be appointed in the Punjab Revenue Department Rawalpindi region. Dr Samia, on a supplementary question, asked Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah that there were 106 patwaris in Rawalpindi and Taxila and why only 12 patwaris were enjoying additional charges.
The question hour on Wednesday was on the board of revenue and colonies and Punjab Revenue Minister Haji Ishaq was responding to queries of MPAs and proceedings were going smoothly when Dr Samia accused Nisar of nepotism, a fact which Ishaq also admitted.
Responding to the remarks, Sanaullah termed statements about Nisar as objectionable. He said that earlier decisions were made on liking or disliking because of some powerful MNAs. He said, “I have no hesitation in saying that now after ruling of the apex court, the deputy district officer Revenue will make all appointments of Patwaris.” On this, Dr Samia said that “I also have no hesitation in saying that only Nisar is the concerned MNA”. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Ghulam Bashir Awan, on a point of order, supported the Dr Samia and said that he also belonged to Rawalpindi and without Nisar’s approval, no administrative decision could be taken in his constituency.
Ishaq, responding to the question, admitted direct and indirect involvement of MNAs and MPAs in posting and transfer of revenue officials in Rawalpindi. He said that 75 patwaris were performing duties against 106 approved posts. He said that 12 patwaris were having additional charge of extra constituencies. The minister said that parliamentarians in Rawalpindi were really powerful and important decisions were taken on their will. Ishaq said that now the DDO (Revenue) would be independent in posting patwaris after direction of the apex court.
When the law minister saw that the matter is getting serious, he in an attempt to defend his senior party leader, on a point of order, said that it should be right of MNAs or MPAs to monitor performance of government officers serving in their constituency.
The MNA and MPA should not only monitor performance of government officers but also have the right to appreciate them and replace them if their performance was poor, Sanaullah said. He termed remarks against Nisar as highly objectionable and said that the opposition should answer corruption committed during the last regime.
Dr Samia said that treasury benches always blamed the opposition for all wrong doings and she has the right to ask if the “powerful MNA had done anything to put things in order?” Dr Samia said that Sanaullah was in a habit of instigating others and now he was smiling beneath his moustaches. The PA speaker, seeing that things are getting out of control, ended the question hour session.
