‘Sharifs focused on surveys rather than development’
The Sharif brothers would have been far more popular if they had focused on helping the poor, fighting crime and improving schools rather than on popularity surveys, said Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Saturday.
Elahi, who served as chief minister of the Punjab from 2002 to 2007, was commenting on a survey by the International Republican Institute which showed that the PML-Nawaz had gained in popularity.
Talking to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leaders at his residence, Elahi said that victory in elections depended on voters’ support on election day, not on survey results.
He said that his party had polled the most votes in the Punjab and the second highest in the country, even though an IRI survey before the 2008 elections had predicted otherwise.
He said that the PML-N had bankrupted the Punjab. He said when his government had stepped down, the province had a Rs100 billion surplus. Now, the State Bank was reporting that the province was heavily in debt, he said.
Elahi said that another State Bank report showed that the province’s economy grew at a rate of 8 per cent in 2007, while it was growing at just 1.8 per cent in 2012.
The State Bank had also reported that under Elahi, the Punjab government had utilised up to 98 per cent of the development budget, while the Shahbaz Sharif government had utilised only 43 per cent, he said.
He said that the Punjab government had wasted billions of rupees on the Sasti Roti scheme, Ashiana Housing scheme, Laptop scheme, Danish Schools and the Lahore Metro Bus Service.
He said the laptops handed out to students for free by the Punjab government had started showing up at shops in Hafeez Centre the day after they were given.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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@Maria: What planet are you living on? Is there a Punjab on Mars that we don't know about?
If they have managed to get so much development done in Punjab while wasting funds on surveys, I still salute the Sharif brothers. At least they have got things done! It is the only province in Pakistan where there is growth and where there is progress!
@Imran: No one denies the obvious improvement and progress in the Punjab under the Sharifs. I don't particularly care about the PML N but the truth is that the Punjab remains the most developed, stable and developing province in the country. This is the real reason why the poll showing support for the Sharif's party makes sense. I think Pervez is just upset but even he cannot deny the progress and development of Punjab largely due to the efforts of Shahbaz Sharif.
look who is saying and way? plz look after ppp and PTI as you are partner to them, don't worry about PML N, we are better without you and your advices
Frankly speaking I don't give a toss to surveys carried out in Pakistan be it that of gallop, IRI or any other carried out now or just before the election. Its not that I don't have any faith in them on the contrary I think such polls in Pakistan do not neccessrily reflect the mood of the electrote at large. The reason is quite obvious; our voting system hasn't developed to that extent wherein the the 3 elements which impacts the election process such as the basic education level to understand the election factors; weak polling infrastructure and most importantly the intimedation of voters directly and indirectly are extremely weak. Our polling system is still very much in the infancy stage compared to our neighbours like Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh. So the polls becomes immaterial and certainly misleading. So whether it is PPP, PML, PTI, ANP, MQM my advice to all these political parties is that it does not reflect the actual and is very heavily skewed. Just work on your own steam, its nice to now the ratings given by the polls but it should only be taken as an eye-wash. If they sit back and rely on the result of these polls then they will be making big mistakes at their own peril.
Pervaiz Elahi and gang never speak up against the injuistice of Punjab not gettign electricity , even though they pay the bills (unlike other provinces).
Pervaiz Elahi also started the movement to severe and divide Punjab on linguistic lines.
Why would PML Q get any votes in Punjab?
Despite his association with the former dictator, one has to admit that Pervez Ellahi was not corrupt like Shahbaz Sharif aka Pakistani Charles Sobraj. Second, I have never seen him using filthy language as the latter does.
Seems, the IRI survey has hurt many.
Pervez Elahi was the best Chief Minister which Punjab ever had. He was good in Administration and brought a positive change to Punjab. But Sharifs have played not only with the finances but have destroyed the many projects and have spent the money for self promotion.
Where are our beloved PML-N mascots and fanboys now? Do you think we've forgotten who was in power in punjab in the last 5 years? Performance speaks louder than surveys.
Shareefs and their development promises are all election gimmicks. They got many terms but no solid step to improve governance and law and order. They are now limited to one province and will soon further cornered. Their family based politics will soon bring PMLN to its natural demise.