- Dr Qadri alleges government of plundering funds allocated for local bodies
The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) will not hesitate to protest if the government doesn’t devolve powers by holding the local bodies’ election as per the Constitution, said PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri while talking to the representatives of the Local bodies Committee which was formed earlier to oversee and monitor the upcoming LB elections.
The committee apart from overseeing the LB polls has the responsibility for formulating the LB polls manifesto for the PAT.
He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is habitual of ignoring the LBs as they want powerless bodies and does not believe in devolution of power.
“They are bent upon using the ‘Amendment Terrorism’ formula once again,” he added.
Dr Qadri talking to the PAT leaders said that the former nazims, naib nazims, councilors and the democracy-loving educated youth will have to play their due role to form a real authoritative LBs as the PAT and the people of the province do not want a ‘mummy and dummy’ Local Bodies System and representatives likewise. He said the rulers are planning to bring about a toothless LB system and representatives.
“The ruling elite has formed a family dynasty and the assemblies are powerless and useless and now it is up to the people of the province to elect such representative who have the courage to stand up to these ruthless and cruel rulers and make sure that true peoples’ representatives are elected who can play an effective role in the uplift and development of the province and bring about prosperity to the starved poor people of Punjab,” Dr Qadri said.
He said the PAT doesn’t want such institution that operates only to welcome ministers and sets up camps in their honour and does no concrete work for the people.
Dr. Tahirul Qadri said that in the past seven years the rulers have ruined the Local bodies and have used the funds according to their own wishes and desire. He said the people have been left open and at their mercy, their rights have been trampled under the feet of the rulers. He said the rulers have plundered the funds allocated for the LBs with both hands and ruthlessly.
“There is no accountability or audit of the funds gulped by the rulers,” he said, adding that if ever an audit of the LB funds is conducted, the largest official corruption scandal will come before the people.
Dr Qadri said the PAT will provide an educated and honest leadership in upcoming LB polls and candidates will be nominated against each and every seat.
He said the PAT representatives will hold the rulers responsible and will take account of each and every penny taken in the name of LBs by them. The PAT chief said that he is not conspiring against the rulers as they are their own biggest enemies. He said the people are really angry and the rulers better get ready to face the wrath of the peoples’ anger.