PPP demands restoration of Punjab LGs

Hassan Murtaza criticises Punjab govt's handling of Kahna tragedy

LAHORE:

PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza has demanded the immediate restoration of the local government (LG) system in Punjab, strongly criticised the proposed Habitual Offenders Bill and vowed to resist any legislation that, according to his party, violates the Constitution.

Addressing a press conference alongside PPP leaders Rubina Shaheen Wattoo, Ayesha Chaudhry, Faiza Malik and others on Wednesday, Murtaza reiterated his party's demand for the immediate restoration of the LG system, saying that local governments are functioning wherever the PPP is in power.

He alleged that the Punjab government was reluctant to restore the LG system because it feared that companies benefiting from development projects would be shut down and there would no longer be opportunities to display photographs of political leaders across cities.

He also criticised the ongoing process of LG delimitations, alleging that constituencies were being redrawn arbitrarily to ensure the victory of favoured candidates.

The PPP leader also strongly opposed the proposed Habitual Offenders Bill, calling it a "destructive" piece of legislation. He paid tribute to opposition leader Rana Aftab and the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly for highlighting the issue. "If you read this bill, it revives memories of the colonial era," he said.

He also expressed grief over the tragic incident in Lahore's Kahna and said the PPP equally shared the sorrow of the affected families. On Tuesday, the roof of a coaching centre in Kahna caved in resulting in the death of at least 14 children.

He said electricity wires were also hanging in the area where the incident occurred, adding that the Punjab government's claims of carrying out development work in Lahore had been proven false.