Peshawar: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Central General Secretary Ahmad Nawaz Khan Jadun on Wednesday criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s law granting lifetime benefits to members of the provincial assembly, describing it as unjust to the people.
In a video statement, he said the legislation had been enacted at a time when the people of the province were facing inflation, unemployment, insecurity, inadequate basic services and economic hardships.
Ahmad Nawaz Khan Jadun said that despite being in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the past 13 years, the ruling party had failed to provide the level of development, infrastructure, healthcare and education expected by the public.
He said many parts of the province still lacked proper roads, access to clean drinking water, healthcare facilities and other essential public services.
The QWP leader alleged that instead of focusing on resolving public issues, the government and lawmakers were prioritising an increase in their own privileges.
He referred to previous increases in salaries and allowances and said the latest move to provide lifetime benefits and blue passports had further increased public concern.
He said taxpayers’ money should be utilised for public welfare, creating employment opportunities, improving education and healthcare, and strengthening infrastructure rather than extending lifelong privileges to elected representatives.
Ahmad Nawaz Khan Jadun urged the provincial government to review the legislation, set its priorities in line with public needs and focus on addressing the problems faced by the people.
He said the Qaumi Watan Party would continue to oppose any measure that it believed was against the public interest and would raise its voice at every democratic and constitutional forum for the protection of people’s rights.