PESH AWAR: A large number of internally displaced students from the conflict-stricken North Waziristan Agency will lose chance to continue their education as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government did not reserve seats for them in colleges for the current academic year, the provincial assembly was informed on Tuesday.

Speaking on a point of order, Qaumi Watan Party MPA Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli told the house that the provincial government had allotted special quota for displaced students from North Waziristan Agency in different colleges last year.

She said 10 per cent seats were reserved for displaced students in various colleges.

The lawmaker said the higher education department had fixed reserved seats in colleges for one year and did not extend it for the current academic year.

She said IDPs who had rendered sacrifices for the country had been confronting multiple problems and therefore, the government shouldsavefuture ofsuchstudents.

She said the return of IDPs might not be possible in near future, so the government should extend admission quota to enable displaced students to continue theireducation.

Primary and elementary education minister Atif Khan said he was unaware about the issue and assured that the department concerned would help displaced students.

Speaker Asad Qaisar presided over the sitting. It is worth mentioning that over one million people were forced to flee North Waziristan Agency in June 2014 when the army launched the Zarb-i-Azb operation against militants.

The government had started return programme to the areas in November 2014 and only 4,000 families have been sent back to their homes so far.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2015 was introduced in the assembly.

Law and parliamentary minister Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi introduced the bill.

The proposed law aimed at enabling citizens to make public interest disclosure that relates to the irregular, illegal or corrupt practices and protecting them from disadvantageous measures, giving them rewards for such public interest disclosure and for matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto.

The bill says after the commencement of this act, the government shall establish Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission to be consisted of three commissioners including a chairman.Under Section 10(1) of the bill, where a whistleblower discloses violation of public interest, the officer of the commission duly authorisedin this behalfafterinquiryintothe matter is of the view that the violation of public interest has taken place, immediately take steps to prevent such violation.

The commission will ensure protection of whistleblower. After inquiry, if it has been proved that a whistleblower has rightly disclosed the violation of public interest, shall be rewarded 30 per cent of the recovered amount and certificate of appreciation.

However, the bill says, af ter inquiry if it has been proved that a whistleblower has lodged frivolous or mala fide complaint, he shall be liable to a fine of Rs100,000. Section 13 says any person or agency, who willfully does not comply with the directions of the commission, shall liable to a fine of which may extend to Rs25,000 and two years imprisonment.

If the commission after inquiry is of the view that any person has revealed the identity of the whistleblower, may impose a fine which may extend to Rs25,000 and shall be paid to the whistleblower.

Section 15 says no suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the commission or against any officer, employees, agencyor person acting on its behalf, in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended tobe done underthis act.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Canal and Drainage (Amendment) Bill 2015 was also introduced. Through the said amendment the government has proposed to make amendments in section 70 of the said Act so as to include certain acts as offences including: throwing garbage and polythene bags in canal to block water flow; to encroach on side areas of canal; and to divert sewerage lines towards the canal.

The government has also proposed to enhance punishment in the said Act by increasing amount of fine from Rs50 to Rs20,000 and prison term from `one month` to `not less than one year.

Meanwhile the assembly through a unanimous resolution demanded of the federal government to end unscheduled loadshedding in the province and transfer the sitting chief executive of Peshawar Electric Company immediately.

The resolution said citizens in urban areas of the province were experiencing more than 12 hours load shedding daily.

Pakistan People`s Party MPA Nighat Orakzai tabled the resolution.