Afridi announces Rs150m grant for PPC, raises journalists\u2019 children scholarships from 100 to 150
\nJAVED KHAN
\nPESHAWAR
\nChief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday called for allowing jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan access to his personal physicians, terming it a constitutional and legal right.
\nHe was speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) office-bearers at the Chief Minister\u2019s House. Sohail Afridi announced a Rs 150 million grant and enhanced welfare measures for journalists at the ceremony.
\nMr Afridi also increased the number of scholarships for journalists from 100 to 150, and enhanced the Journalists Welfare Endowment Fund from Rs200m to Rs500m. He also directed authorities to expedite the PC-1 for a new building or high-rise project for the press club.
\nThe Chief Minister said a recent protest regarding Mr Khan\u2019s health was peaceful and aimed at securing a \u201cfundamental right\u201d, not political mileage. \u201cIf we wanted to do politics, our attitude would have been different,\u201d he said, adding that democratic behaviour should not be construed as weakness.
\nMr Afridi alleged that despite court orders, the PTI founder was not being provided full medical facilities and demanded that he be allowed to consult his personal physicians, Dr Asim Yousaf and Dr Faisal Sultan.
\n\u201cPreventing hospital treatment is a violation of the Constitution, law and fundamental human rights,\u201d he said, warning that continued \u201cstubbornness\u201d by the authorities would raise further questions.
\nMr Afridi also criticised what he described as extravagant spending amid economic strain, referring to the reported purchase of a 37 million dollars aircraft by the Punjab government. \u201cPakistan is a debtor country. Lavish spending at such a time is injustice and discrimination,\u201d he said, adding that national resources should not be used for personal luxuries.
\nHe further called for an immediate inquiry into an alleged Rs5,300 billion corruption in the national exchequer and urged the federal government to clear KP\u2019s outstanding dues of Rs4,758 billion, which he termed the province\u2019s constitutional right. \u201cThose who rendered sacrifices against terrorism will not tolerate financial injustice,\u201d he said.
\nHighlighting provincial initiatives, Mr Afridi said Rs4 billion had been allocated for the victims of Tirah but unnecessary controversy was created over the move.
\nCongratulating the newly elected cabinet of the press club, the Chief Minister said it had set a high example of democratic values. He emphasised that strengthening journalism and democratic institutions was vital for the country\u2019s stability and claimed that freedom of expression was fully ensured in the province.
\nHe paid tribute to journalists for upholding truth and justice during the difficult years of militancy in the province and acknowledged their sacrifices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Afridi announces Rs150m grant for PPC, raises journalists\u2019 children scholarships from 100 to 150 JAVED KHAN PESHAWAR Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday called for allowing jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan access to his personal physicians, terming it a constitutional and legal right. He was speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":532649,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-532645","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n