Calling an MPA of his own party a “jew”, an MNA of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has accused the provincial lawmaker of “stealing his constituency’s funds”.
As per the details, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Finance Minister Taimoor Saleem Jhagra and MNA Noor Alam Khan have come face-to-face on Twitter over a dispute on development funds.
In an August 3 Twitter thread, that has now gone viral over the micro-blogging website — Jhagra said that his attention was drawn towards a video of Khan, wherein he has used inappropriate language against him.
.1. A speech by PTI MNA @NOORALAMKHAN on social media was brought to my attention. My values & upbringing do not allow me to respond in the language used. But I think it important to highlight both what was said and to clarify a few things, since the accusations were personal.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 2, 2019
The series of tweets came after a viral video showed Khan criticising his own party’s MPA. He called Jhagra a “jew”, adding that he was not a popular politician and had come from former ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Khan was also heard accusing Jhagra of misappropriating funds of his constituency and that he would go to the village of the provincial finance minister and “deal with him there”.
Reacting to the accusations, Jhagra responded by sharing clips from Khan’s speech and translating his words before clarifying his position.
3. However, I wish the politics of this sort of abuse would end. Criticise me all you like, but engage with civility. At least I hope that's the standard I can always hold myself to.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 2, 2019
In the next few tweets are @NOORALAMKHAN's speech and their translation in Urdu.
4. @NOORALAMKHAN says:
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 2, 2019
"Yahan par aik ganja, yuhodion se aya hai, jo pichli hakumat mein nawaz sharif ka naukar tha, abhi usay Imran Khan ne wazir banaya hai." pic.twitter.com/W5M9AhR5oi
5. @NOORALAMKHAN: “Uss ne merey ilaqay ka fund ghaib kiya hai, kiounke woh awami to hai nahin.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 2, 2019
Mein Chief Minister ke pas bhi gaya, laikin woh bhi bezuban maal hai”. pic.twitter.com/m5Mts55Ag9
6. @NOORALAMKHAN: “Arbab Jahandad sb, tumhara wazir hai ye, Jhagra gaon se taaluq hai, koi us apna halqa to hai hi nahin – tum uss ko kaho keh uss ne mera fund liya, aur khuda ki qasam, mein uss ke pechay us ke gaoon jaoun ga, aur uss ko wahi khenchun ga.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 2, 2019
Ab uss ki marzi. pic.twitter.com/mV2u9nCXup
7. @NOORALAMKHAN: "…Mujhe ye fund na iss CM ne dia na iss wazir ne. Mera sauda hua tha jab mein party mein aya… Ab mujhe kam az kam ye transformer ke paisay wapas lanay hain, tum log hi laga lo.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 2, 2019
Samjhao iss ko, warna qasam se mein iss ganjay ko maarun ga." pic.twitter.com/HfBSchseRx
The clips were followed by tweets wherein Jhagra shared “how he had promised Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to ensure financial discipline”.
8. Remember, public funds do not belong to any MNA / MPA. And they are certainly not mine to give or take from anyone.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 3, 2019
I did promise PM Imran Khan that we would bring financial discipline and am proud of most of my colleagues for their support and understanding. pic.twitter.com/Dwr11fPzzG
9. I can't hand funds to any individual to dish out as they please. But I can confirm this.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 3, 2019
The exact same amount of money was made available to this project in each of the four provincial constituencies under @NOORALAMKHAN, as even to the Chief Minister. pic.twitter.com/F5W2AMqOWr
In his last tweet of the thread, the provincial minister wrote:
10. And also remember, the silence of a Chief Minister to an unfulfillable personal request is simply a dignified answer from a polite, honourable but firm gentleman and leader, who is doing his best for his province.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) August 3, 2019
Do not ridicule this as helplessness or weakness. pic.twitter.com/ebXjmrU0AZ
While the spat reveals the rift that appears to be widening within the ruling party, it has not yet attracted an official response. PTI activists from PK-70, however, have reportedly held a rally to condemn the use of objectionable language by the MNA.