Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Fakharuddin G Ebrahim, alleging massive pre-poll manipulation and manoeuvring by the Punjab government with a major media campaign through public funds in favour of the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.
The letter by PTI Secretary Information Shafqat Mahmood questioned the conduct of some government officials working with the Punjab government, calling it “objectionable”.
“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf has been informed by media houses and newspaper editors that Mohiyuddin Wani, Punjab secretary information, a government employee, regularly calls newspapers and media houses to kill news concering the PTI. This amounts to political activity which is expressly forbidden to public servants. He, as all other state employees, is paid through taxes collected from all citizens and has no right to take a partisan role or indulge in politics,” the PTI said.
Registering his party’s protest against the “misuse of state resources” by the Punjab government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Mahmood asserted that the federal and the provincial governments had greatly enhanced their advertising budgets and were making full use of public funds to propagate their party line.
“The Punjab government has crossed all limits of official propriety. For example, half page advertisements are being carried everyday in newspapers placed by the Punjab government extolling its achievements. On most of these ads, a picture of Nawaz Sharif is displayed prominently”.
The PTI leader said Nawaz had no official designation in the Punjab government and hence he had no right to appear in its ads.
“Similarly, laptops bought and paid for by the Punjab government are being distributed by Hamza Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif. They also do not have any official position in the Punjab government. The display of Nawaz Sharif’s picture in government advertisements and prominent role of Sharif family members in official events is a misuse of their position to further political aims of their party,” he added.
In an election year, Mahmood added, such a conduct became even more objectionable.
“You are requested to kindly take notice and initiate steps to ensure that these activities come to a stop… Sir, if this goes unchecked, this ‘disease’ will spread to other public servants. If this happens, it will be a complete negation of the code of conduct of governing officials. You are requested again to kindly take notice and proceed against all government officials who are directly or indirectly taking part in politics,” the PTI leader concluded.
Good Step by PTI.
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