PPP concerned over funds allocation to Da'awa

LAHORE- Taking part in Budget debate on Sunday, PPP legislator Amna Buttar, voiced her great concern over allocation of Rs 8 million to Jamat ud Dawa, a banned religious organisation. She said she was astonished to know that a banned outfit had also been allocated handsome amount in the new budget. Is it justice that Punjab government has allocated huge amount of pubic money for a banned religious organization. she asked. Amna also raised objections to some other budgetary allocations and criticised the government for ignoring the poor in the new budget. She said it was sheer injustice that government had provided Rs 60 million to Chand Bagh school, an educational institution meant for the children of the elite, while there still existed some schools in a city like Lahore, where poor children were getting education under the shadows of trees. She also expressed her displeasure over Rs 6 million daily expenditure on CM Secretariat. She came down hard on PML-N ministers for their absence from the assembly at a time when House was having debate on the budget. It is to be noted that all PML-N ministers left the House along with CM Shahbaz Sharif and did not return for quite a long time. They, however, remained present in the Assembly (PA) as long as CM was attending the session, but left their seats one by one with his departure from the House. Amna Buttars speech irked Dr Ashraf of the PML-N who criticised the PPP legislators for what he called playing dual role of opposition as well that of a coalition partner. The Speaker tried to stop Mr Chohan, but he continued. He invited the displeasure of another PPP MPA from RY Khan, Javed Hassan who told the agitating member that PML-N govt couldnt survive without PPP support. This worked, and he went silent.

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