The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Saturday demanded the government publicise the details of Rs 50 billion that was acquired from international donors for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) but spent on horse trading in the Punjab Assembly.
Addressing reporters at the PML-N secretariat, the party’s Central Information Secretary Mushahidullah Khan accused the Pakistan People’s Party-led government of using the national exchequer for its election campaigns.
The party demanded the PPP government present to parliament the details of Rs 170 billion allocated for Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package.
The PML-N secretary information alleged that the huge amount meant for IDPs was utilized for horse trading in the Punjab Assembly. He was of the view that despite misuse of funds in the name of IDPs for buying out members of the Punjab Assembly, the PPP failed to install a government of its choice in Punjab.
Hitting hard at the president, Khan accused Asif Ali Zardari of utilizing the national exchequer for gaining political objectives related to the coming polls.
He said the ruling coalition had delivered nothing during their five-year tenure and now feared being held accountable by the public during the coming election.
To a question, Khan said his party demanded the ruling coalition take parliament on board over the issue of issuance, allocations and spending of funds in Balochistan province in the name Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package.
He also alleged that over 60 percent funds under the particular package for Balochistan were not spent on ground in real and were distributed among the politicians for their political gains, leaving the people of the province deprived.
To another query, he said the need of the hour was not to issue statements against the angry Baloch leadership, but to convince them and bring them back into mainstream politics to protect the sovereignty of the country.
Instead of following the legacy of former dictator Pervez Musharraf, the government should open the door for negotiations with the angry Baloch leadership, as such issues could only be addressed through democratic policies, the PML-N leader added.
He also suggested the government initiate transparent investigations into all issues related to the province and to bring those behind such illegal acts to justice in order to end the sense of deprivation of the Baloch people.
