Election favours: Likeminded deprived of development largesse

Nasir Chattha accuses both PML-Q and PPP of holding back schemes.

LAHORE:

Despite Pakistan Muslim League Likeminded (PML-Likeminded)’s electoral alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) in the upcoming general election, disgruntled Likeminded leaders claim that their constituencies have been deprived of development projects.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Likeminded Chairman Hamid Nasir Chattha said with elections mere months away, development projects are being used to lure voters and both Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are holding back development schemes in constituencies held by the Likeminded group.

According to sources, Likeminded leaders said that the party had requested the Punjab government but failed to secure any projects, adding that the federal government had also cold-shouldered the party.

The Likeminded leader claimed that elected representatives from his party were being deprived of development projects in their respective constituencies, including his constituency of Wazirabad, situated in Gujranwala.

According to sources, the PPP has sanctioned development projects worth Rs120 million for each of its elected member, while PML-N has sanctioned development projects worth Rs200 million for each of its MPA but nothing for the likeminded.

Commenting on the electoral alliance, Chattha said that according to the agreement on seat-to-seat adjustment between the Likeminded and the PML-N, 11% of total general seats of National Assembly and provincial assemblies from across the country would be awarded to the candidates of the Likeminded group.

The Likeminded group, led by Hamid Nasir Chattha, has some of the political heavyweights of Punjab and Sindh including Humayun Akhtar and Arbab Ghulam Rahim who are expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming elections.

Last year, the Likeminded group had entered into negotiations with PTI Chairman Imran Khan to discuss a possible alliance. But the talks broke down after Imran asked Likeminded leaders to join his party individually or collectively.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2012.