Usman Mehsud – despite knowing the fact that Bajaur has multiple confirmed coronavirus cases – attended a large public gathering that was arranged following his transfer. The government officials and the organizer of the farewell party have violated the imposed section 144, while the poor shopkeepers are on a verge of starvation due to the deadly coronavirus lockdown in the district.
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Meanwhile, DAWN reported that Usman Mehsud’s transfer was result of a row between him and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers over the utilisation of Rs40 million coronavirus emergency relief funds released by the provincial government on March 20.
The newspaper reported that the ruling party lawmakers, including MNAs Gul Dad Khan, Gul Zafar Khan and MPA Eng Ajmal Khan on March 22, asked the former DC to share the details of the expenditure of covid-19 funds. They reportedly insisted that the funds should be utilised as per their recommendations and under their supervision as they were the public representatives.
However, the sources said that Usman Mehsud turned down the lawmakers’ suggestions, and argued that as per the government policy the legislators had nothing to do with the funds’ utilisation as it was the district administration’s responsibility to use such money.