CM slates political rivals on their failures

Hamza blames Imran, Buzdar for financial decline, food shortage and elevated crime rates

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz stated that he had not witnessed such a constitutional crisis in the history of Punjab. The CM was addressing a press conference on Thursday, with Provincial Ministers Sardar Awais Leghari, Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan and Atta Tarar also present.

Whilst extolling the virtues of the PML-N-led coalition government, he decried the erstwhile PTI government of Imran Khan, placing the blame on the former Prime Minister for the country’s current financial decline, food shortage and other issues.

Taking aim at his predecessor, Usman Buzdar, CM Shehbaz lambasted him for leaving Lahore’s CCTV cameras non-functional, contributing to a rise in crime. “He knew that most of the PSCA cameras were non-functional and robberies were taking place in houses due to 30 percent of the cameras not working.”

The CM then spoke about Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi. He stated that Elahi gave orders to summon the chief secretary and IG Punjab, only then allowing the budget to be presented.

CM Shehbaz termed Speaker Elahi’s actions a violation of the Constitution, additionally accusing him of faking injuries during a ruckus in the Punjab Assembly earlier this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2022.