Declaring political change in Punjab necessary for resolution of the masses’ problems, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Dr Babar Awan said on Friday said that only the PPP could steer the province towards progress and prosperity by resolving public grievances.
He was talking to journalists at the residence of PPP Lahore General Secretary Akbar Khan, where he went to condole Akbar’s mother’s death. Punjab Opposition Leader Raja Riaz and PPP Lahore President Samina Khalid Ghurki were also present. Awan said that there was a race in Punjab to become trillionaires and at a time when people were dying from dengue, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif had gone on a “pleasure trip” along with his stalwarts. The former federal law minister said that the PPP did not want to derail democracy in the country but political change in Punjab was the demand of the people. He said that the PPP had solution of the problems of the people in Punjab. Awan cautioned the PML-N to avoid fiddly political practices and boldly face opponents. He said that whosoever wanted to join politics should adopt the legal procedure and quit public office first. The PPP leader alleged that Punjab government employees were fixing banners for the PML-N’s rally on October 28 and the Punjab government was spending billions of rupees from the provincial exchequer for this purpose, adding that the PPP wanted to see courts take action against this violation.
He said that governance in the province was pathetic and students of Gujranwala and Gujrat were protesting against their results and people were dying of dengue helplessly. Awan said that Nawaz had left the country for a foreign trip even after death of seven more people in the city. He said that the opposition in the province was playing its due role by pointing out problems being faced by the people but after consistent efforts it was starting a people’s awareness drive.
The PPP leader said that it was the duty of the provincial government to control prices and examine the balances of shopkeepers after the 18th Amendment, adding that unfortunately, political workers were employed in market committees. He said that the PPP was organising a public gathering at Sheikhupura on October 23 and at Faisalabad on October 28, aimed at strengthening democracy.
Awan said that the Punjab government was working with the help of turncoats. He said that not a single session of the Punjab Assembly (PA) was called on the issue of dengue and the cabinet had not been taken into confidence. The former federal law minister condemned the provincial government for ceasing political activities of some parties in the province and demanded the Election Commission to take notice. He said that the PPP would not allow anyone to flee from democracy and defend it from attackers. Awan hoped that the PPP would win the next elections and complete its tenure even after forming the government after elections in 2013.