Political mileage: PM opens purse strings for Gujar Khan
With elections drawing nearer, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf attempted to gain political mileage by announcing a Rs12 billion development package for his constituency and its adjoining areas on Sunday.
Addressing one of the largest public gatherings in Gujar Khan at the Sawar Mohammad Shaheed Stadium, he claimed the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will sweep the upcoming general elections due to the “unprecedented development work it has to its credit.”
He announced several development projects for the tehsil and its surrounding areas, which include 157 projects for providing electricity and 255 schemes for distributing natural gas. He added that he had already talked to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in this regard.
Other projects announced include the dualisation of Mandra-Chakwal and Sohawa-Chakwal roads, costing Rs2.7 billion and Rs3.3 billion, respectively. PM Ashraf also inaugurated the construction of the Rs160 million Doltala-Gujar Khan road and the Rs425 million Gujar Khan underpass.
Touching upon the Supreme Court’s verdict on Asghar Khan’s petition, PM Ashraf said it should serve as an eye-opener to those conducting a ‘media trial’ of the ruling party. He added that the case had shown how elections have been rigged against the PPP.
Claiming that over 125,000 bogus votes had been cast in every constituency in the previous elections, PM Ashraf said no one will be allowed to cast bogus votes again.
“It doesn’t matter if you hatch conspiracies [against PPP]… We will achieve a resounding success in the upcoming general elections,” he said amid chants by party workers.
Ashraf also talked about the attack on peace icon Malala Yousafzai, saying his government will not let any terrorist harm a ‘daughter of the nation’. He added that his party and the nation stood behind the armed forces and would not let anyone threaten the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2012.
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Bravo! Potohari & Seraiki people need their own provinces for development. So do Hazarewals of KP, Pushtoons of Balochistan & FATA