PESHAWAR - Denouncing the statement of State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, Provincial Information Minister Shah Farman told the provincial assembly on Wednesday that his party’s government would cut off electricity to Punjab if it continued allegations against the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tried to disconnect electricity to district Bannu.
He ignored the protest of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) legislators, and repeated his remarks against the federal minister, saying he would repeat the same words against the federal minister and would not withdraw these words against Abidi Sher Ali, who constantly accused their people of stealing electricity.
The Deputy Speaker Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi had to adjourn the session for tea break when both the minister for Information and PML-N legislators were shouting against each other despite repeated requests by the chair.
PML-N MPA Sardar Aurangzeb Nalota, however, continued protest after the break in the absence of Shah Farman, saying such un-parliamentary language of a minister against any of the federal minister or MNA was not suitable.
The emotionally charged leaguer from Hazara was not ready to listen to repeated requests by the chair and also burst on Senior Minister Sirajul Haq, who tried to pursue Nalota to give up emotions. He also asked the senior minister to tell them about their government’s performance and tall claims of change, which they brought during the last six months. He however, stopped his protest speech when the chair announced to expunge his and minister’s remarks from proceedings requesting to both members of treasury and opposition benches to respect decorum of this august house.
Taking the floor, Senior Minister Sirajul Haq said this was neither an emotional issue nor it could be solved by a single party but needs collective efforts. He said KPK was producing 18 billions electricity units. It, he said, required eight billions units while it supplies 10 billions units to other provinces. “We are not narrow-minded but seek justice,” he said adding: “The father of Abid Sher Ali is a serious person but he (Abid Sher Ali) has repeatedly accused his people of stealing electricity.” He said he had formed an advisory council comprising all finance ministers to solve electricity problem, which was not only theirs but entire Pakistan’s problem. He himself has invited the federal government for investment on 18 sites for electricity production but has not received any response, saying they could overcome the problem and control over electricity theft with the cooperation of the federal government.
Sirajul Haq said KPK was passing through difficult situation. The wrong policies of the previous government has imposed third war and thousands of people had lost their lives suggesting both the federal and provincial governments should find out solution to the crisis instead of rubbing salt into the wounds of the people.     
JUI-F’s Mufti Syed Janan and Shah Hussain suggested the chair to keep their questions pending for another day, saying they would not allow the government to bulldoze their important questions. The Speaker said he would follow the rules telling the members not to waste their time. He also requested the members to stop signing applications from ministers during assembly proceedings and the minister should also pay attention to proceedings.
Responding to the question of Rashida Riffat, Minister for Health, Shaukat Yousafzai said the government would take action against the responsible person after getting reports of the high-level inquiry committee probing the incident. He said he had already suspended the person and formed a committee of senior bureaucrats to punish the accused.