We want to save state not politics: CM

Discusses by-elections strategy with S Punjab PPP chief

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has said that he would have resigned and contested by-elections if his party had permitted him to do so.

Addressing a news conference after meeting Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) South Punjab president Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood, the chief minister said his motive is to save the state and not politics.

Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz said he would not do vindictive politics like the previous prime minister.

“Our alliance is not for forming the government but rather uniting for the country and the nation. We did not unite for doing politics only. Heaps of garbage were found in the streets and their corners in the past four years but cleanliness remained exemplary across Punjab, including Lahore, on Eidul Azha. We worked for the welfare of the masses without a cabinet. We formulated a programme to provide subsidised flour and also to provide 100-unit free electricity for the first time in the history of the country. Imran Niazi did not do anything himself and went to the Election Commission on the matter of providing free electricity and a got stay order on it," he said.

The chief minister asserted that the ruling alliance would win the by-elections for 20 seats of the provincial assembly on July 17.

"We will not do vindictive politics like Imran Niazi after getting victory and we have to improve the national economy by working jointly. We made such decisions whose political price has to be paid," he added.

He also repeated allegations of corruption against the previous rulers of the province.

The chief minister alleged that the PTI chairman wanted to create unrest under the guise of politics.

"We will not leave any stone unturned in making the people prosperous by uniting with our allies. No single party can change the destiny of the country and we all have to work together. We will have to do away with hatred in order to take the country forward," he said.

PPP leader Ahmad Mahmood said PML-N and his party had given a final shape to the strategy for the by-elections. He said both parties had complete homogeneity in this regard and expressed hope for good results for the coalition in South Punjab.

He said major efforts would be required to rectify the shortcomings created in the last four years in the country. "We have consensus that we have to think for the country collectively and put politics aside," he stated.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz announced an additional basic salary of a month for Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) employees over their services on Eidul Azha.

He appreciated the administration and staff members over the cleanliness arrangements across the province.

The chief minister distributed appreciation certificates in a ceremony among selected officers and sanitary workers.

He lauded the commissioners, deputy commissioners and field staff of the LWMC for making excellent cleanliness arrangements. He said the staff members had made the whole Punjab neat and clean by performing their duties with devotion and diligence. He urged them to work with the same zeal and spirit in future.

He said the best results had emerged due to fully adhering to the cleanliness plan in letter and spirit.

Earlier, the CM chaired a meeting in which the performance report of Eidul Azha was presented to him.

The performance of the RPO and CTO of Rawalpindi was appreciated for arrangements made for tourists and maintaining smooth traffic flow in Murree.

The participants were informed that the performance of the commissioners of Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions had remained better than others with regard to cleanliness arrangements. The Bahawalpur commissioner obtained second position, followed by Sahiwal.

The DC of Rawalpindi district obtained first position, followed by officials serving in Lahore and Bahawalpur.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2022.