As elections approach, political parties are gearing up their attempts to gain public attention and approval. One such publicity stunt is the announcement by the Punjab government, under a fresh order by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif, that 300 party MNAs and MPAs are to act as chief inspectors in 332 Ramadan Bazaars across the province. Nawaz Sharif, in an attempt to reap the benefits from pre-election publicity stunts, is himself expected to show up at Ramadan Bazaars, Ramadan Dastarkhwans and Ramadan Fair Price shops in various places across the province. This will be a surprise visit and no dates of his appearances have been announced. A party source, however, told Pakistan Today that Nawaz Sharif will make an appearance in the last week of the Ramadan.
Around 300 assembly members will be responsible for Ramadan Bazaars in 5 constituencies in Attock, Bahalnagar 8, Bhakkar 4 , Chakwal 4, Dera Gazi Khan 7, Faisalabad 22, Gujranwala 14, Gujrat 8, Hafizabad 3, Jehlam 4, Kasur 10, Khanewal 8, Lahore 25, Khushab 4, Layyah 5, Lodhran 5, Mandi Bahuddin 5, Mianwali 4, Multan 13, Muzaffargarh 11, Nankana Sahib 5, Narowal 5, Okara 9, Pak Pattan 5, Rahim Yar Khan 13, Rajan Pur 4, Rawalpindi 14, Sahiwal 7, Sargodah 11, Sheikhupura 6, Sialkot 11, Toba Tek Singh 7, Sheikhupura 2 and eight constituencies of Vehari.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday had held a meeting with assembly members and directed them to conduct regular visits to Ramadan Bazaars to check the quality and prices of essential items to save the people from hoarders and profiteers. Daily reports are being compiled and will be submitted to Nawaz Sharif. However, reports claim that despite the announcement of the publicity gimmick, the PML-N leaders are not very active in keeping a check on the arrangements, delivery and availability of subsidized items and security at Ramadan Bazaars.
“Some parliamentarians demanded the company of some officers who should be granted powers for holding summary trials to control prices of essential commodities. They also wanted that these officers to be awarded the power to exercise the powers of an executive magistrate of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 2001, the Price Control Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 1977 and Ihtram-i-Ramadan Ordinance 1969” a source at the CM Secretariat said. However, it was rejected on administrative grounds, he added. PML-N Media Coordinator Muhammad Mehdi denied the allegations that Ramadan Package was a part of any pre-election stunt, saying it was nothing but an obnoxious propaganda of rival parties of PML-N. “Engaging parliamentarians in the monitoring system of Ramadan Bazars has nothing to do with any political game to buy cheap publicity,” he said, adding that all of them were public representatives and in their presence, people will be more keen to discuss their problems.
Ruling out the criticism that PML-N had not taken on board its alliance and unification bloc on this decision, Muhammad Mehdi said that party did not believe in “pick and choose policy”, saying that everyone had been given a role to serve the public in Ramadan.
He said that Nawaz Sharif is a public heartthrob and his presence will elevate the depressed spirits of the common man and people would discuss their grievances with him freely. PML-N Minister for Planning and Development Abdul Ghafoor said that PML-N believed in performance and has announced Ramadan package of Rs 4 billion as compared to the federal government’s Rs 2.5 billion.
Ramdan Bazaars: public service or publicity stunt?
