NA denies PTI claims over official vehicles, perks

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Secretariat has rejected claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Sanaullah Masti Khel regarding the return of official vehicles and privileges following the party’s resignation from parliamentary committees.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Assembly spokesperson said Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had never refused to take back official vehicles or committee-related benefits from PTI lawmakers. The spokesperson clarified that neither the speaker nor the National Assembly Secretariat had contacted PTI members to retain the vehicles or privileges.

The statement said that if PTI lawmakers wished to return the official vehicles and other facilities, they could have deposited them with the National Assembly’s transport pool at any time.

The spokesperson further stated that several PTI lawmakers continue to use committee offices and enjoy benefits associated with their positions despite announcing their resignations from standing committees.

According to parliamentary sources, a number of official vehicles remain in the possession of PTI members even after their resignations from committee chairmanships. Sources said some lawmakers are also continuing to receive up to 320 litres of petrol per month, a benefit provided to committee chairpersons.

Officials added that committee chairpersons are entitled to an official office, a government vehicle, a driver, a personal assistant and a support staff member. PTI and the Sunni Ittehad Council currently hold chairmanships of eight standing committees.

Among those who were provided committee-related facilities are Muhammad Atif, Junaid Akbar, Khawaja Shiraz and Amir Dogar.

The clarification came a day after PTI MNA Sanaullah Masti Khel arrived at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in an official vehicle. When asked by journalists why he had not returned the vehicle and other privileges despite resigning from the committees, Masti Khel claimed that he had attempted to return the vehicle but the National Assembly speaker had declined to accept it.

According to Masti Khel, the speaker had told him that the vehicle could not be taken back until the resignations from the parliamentary committees were formally accepted.