PESHAWAR, Dec 16: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal lawmakers in the NWFP Assembly here on Tuesday criticised the provincial government for allowing Bank of Khyber (BoK) to stop conversion of its conventional branches into Islamic banking system.

“The government should not invite the wrath of Allah Almighty by allowing interest-based banking in the province and should withdraw this decision immediately,” said Mufti Kifayatullah of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl on the floor of the house.

The assembly proceedings started with Speaker Kiramatullah Khan Chagharmatti in the chair. On a point of order the MMA lawmaker from Mansehra said that the previous government had introduced Islamic banking system in the province after bringing amendments in the BoK Act.

The Act says that the government is bound for taking measures to convert the provincial bank into a complete Islamic bank. The law had prohibited the bank from opening conventional banking branches in future and paved way for the conversion of the existing branches into Islamic one. The MMA lawmaker said that 16 branches of BoK had been converted into Islamic banking system so far and the remaining branches should be converted soon. He said that the cabinet in its meeting held on Monday had allowed the management of the bank to stop conversion of the branches and restart conventional banking.

He said that MMA would not allow reintroduction of conventional banking in the BoK branches. He warned that masses would not allow what he called the un-Islamic decision of the government.

Abdul Akbar Khan of PPP on this occasion proposed to hold debate on the matter through an adjournment motion. Speaker Chagharmatti said the issue would be discussed when government presented the bill in the house.

Shah Hussain Khan of MMA through a call attention notice raised the issue of medical education and pointed out that according to Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) 50 per cent answer sheets of the students would be sent to the external and 50 per cent to external examiners.

He said that Khyber Medical University had sent all the answer papers to external examiners for marking due to which a large number of students had been failed. He said that the university administration had violated rules 18 and 19 of PMDC. He demanded handing over the matter to the committee of the assembly.

Senior Minister Bashir Bilour said that Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani had ordered inquiry into the matter. He said that the inquiry would be completed very soon.

Members of opposition benches including leader of opposition Akram Khan Durrani, PPP-Sherpao parliamentary leader Sikandar Hayat Sherpao and independent members accused the government of victimising political opponents.

Mr Durrani said that Executive District Officer (EDO) Education and Deputy Director Works and Services, Bannu, had been suspended on political ground. He said that government was pressurising officials to appoint teachers against various vacant posts without following merit. He said that cases against JUI-F workers had been registered under 3MPO. He warned that repercussions of such policies would be serious for the society.

Sikandar Sherpao said the government was harassing his party’s supporters and police had been handed over lists asking them to arrest his party activists under the MPO. He said that government should either stop victimisation or stop making tall claims of believing in democracy.

Nighat Orakzai of PML-Q informed the chair that certain officials in the education department had been harassing female teachers. She said that the officials were threatening women teachers to transfer them to far flung areas if their “demands” were not fulfilled. She demanded of the government to expel black sheep from the education department and provide protection to female teachers.

Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti assured the house that coalition government did not believe in political victimisation and all members would be treated equally. Regarding suspension of two senior officials, he said that he would provide report of the inquiry committee to the opposition leader. He was of the view that the said officials had violated government decision and on the recommendation of the committee the cabinet took action against them. Later, the speaker adjourned the proceeding of the house till Wednesday morning.