The anti-corruption department has determined that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Maryam Nawaz, used the government’s development schemes worth Rs2.5 billion to rig a Lahore by-election in 2017, Adviser to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said on Wednesday.
Addressing a news conference along with Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, the adviser said that a case was being sent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in this regard as a huge amount of Rs2.5 billion was involved.
“Maryam Nawaz had managed funds of Rs2.5 billion from then PML-N federal government and initiated various development schemes by TEPA [Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency] in a bid to rig the NA-120 by-elections,” Akbar told reporters.
“Maryam Nawaz had violated the ECP’s [Election Commission of Pakistan] rules and regulations, pertaining to the ban on the development schemes besides allocation of funds for any purpose in the constituency during polls,” he added.
The NA-120 by elections was held on September 17, 2017 after the seat fell vacant following disqualification of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif from holding public office by the Supreme Court in July. The PML-N had fielded Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, while her main challenger was Dr Yasmin Rashid.
However, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz fell ill and went to London and in her absence, Maryam Nawaz led the election campaign for her mother. Begum Kulsoom Nawaz won the election after securing 61,745 votes, while Dr Rashid, of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was runner-up with 47,099 votes.
Dr Rashid told reporters that she had submitted about 32 petitions along with evidence to the ECP to inquire into the funds utilised in the constituency during NA-120 by-polls. “Now the inquiry of anti-corruption [department] has proved me right,” she added.
“We have moved to the Lahore High Court pertaining to this matter,” the Punjab minister said, adding: “Maryam Nawaz was involved in influencing the by election of NA-120 and now she is raising the slogan of ‘Vote Ko Izzat Do’ [give respect to the vote].”
Akbar said that the funds for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were used, which had been released by the then PML-N federal government in August, September and October, 2017. He added that Maryam Nawaz, had used TEPA to disburse the funds to influence the voters.
According to the adviser on accountability, cash payments were also made to a third party for completing development schemes and later the ground working, including tendering and other formalities, were completed.
“These facts and findings surfaced during an anti-corruption inquiry, he said. “The case is being sent to NAB as a huge amount of Rs2.5 billion is involved in this case,” he maintained. “The government will also send a reference to the ECP about this rigging for the record.”
Responding to a question about the opposition’s protest rallies, Shehzad Akbar said that the PTI government would not halt opposition’s protest but stressed that the protest should be peaceful. He added it was responsibility of provincial and district administration to allow or restrict any protest.
The adviser said that Maryam Nawaz remained silent for about eight months because she wanted NRO – a reference to the political amnesty granted by then military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007 – to go to London but after not getting the NRO, she started criticising the government and other institutions.
On the occasion, Dr Yasmin Rashid said that the opposition could stage protests and political gatherings but they should observe the health guidelines for Covid-19. “If the Covid-19 cases’ trend remained on increasing side, the government could think of imposing lockdown again. (With input from APP)
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