LAHORE:
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tariq Azeem demanded on Wednesday the chief election commissioner (CEC) take notice of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led federal government’s attempt to “buy voters” before the next parliamentary elections.
Talking to the media, Azeem said that even though the election date has not even been announced yet, the PPP has already started “resorting to its past practices”.
“Distribution of Rs30million to each PPP MPA in Punjab by the prime minister is pre-poll rigging. The money has actually been released for the election campaign and for buying voters,” Azeem said, adding that it was impossible to utilise this huge amount for development projects before the election.
The PML-N leader also demanded that the CEC conduct an audit of the premier’s discretionary funds, pointing out that he had already spent Rs22 billion from the fund and asked for another Rs10 billion. He added that the discretionary fund would be used on the lawmakers leaving the PPP, while the remaining money was to be squandered on election campaigning.
The PML-N leader said the PPP had resorted to such tactics because of its “certain defeat” in the upcoming general elections. He promised that after coming to power, the PML-N would audit the amount given to the lawmakers and take action against anyone found using the money in an illegal manner while returning the money to the exchequer.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2012.
COMMENTS (24)
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@Fahd: Well laptops remain very controvertial beside being distributed on merit. And yes in big economies this can not be taken as a development but in our case we are a struggling nation with below average percentage of educated population. Why laptops were distributed to students only not to an ordinary youth? the first sane idea come into mind is to provide an learning facility to deserving students and in my opinion this is a good development. As far as gdp and economic growth is concern then energy crisis and its impact on industries in Punjab and on other end attitude of federal (PPP) towards resolving this is mess is quite obvious. South punjab is unfortunately victim of worst politics and always suffers the rivalry of PMLN and PPP. PPP and PML Q holds more seat there and they dont let other to work for people but still many schools and colleges have been started there and proper quota from schemes has been given on population grounds.
And if you ask me to think out of all this mess then there is no such party exists in Pakistan which actually thinks out of box, unfortunately IK has become part of same dirty pond. He just know how to rag but has no practical presence in Country's current issues.
We cant blame these parties for buying our votes...every one has a price and we sell cheap!
If PMLN was in power, they would be doing the same thing. Keep people hungry and then when times come, give them food in exchange for votes.
Only Blame..@Umair: You are contradicting yourself. First your leader says votes are being bought, then you say development is taking place, when I ask where, you say laptops are being given, which basically means u are buying votes. And secondly, do you really think giving out laptops is development? Have you seen punjabg gdp and growth rate? Have you seen the state of health, education and law and order in punjab? Have you seen the fiscal deficit in punjab? Its a shame that the pmln supporters compare shahbaz sharif to people like qaim ali shah and raisani and say that our province is better. That is damn pathetic. even a donkey could beat qaim ali shah and raisani in performance.Please elaborate on the hospitals being built in south punjab? as far as i know every development fund of punjab has been diverted to the mass transit scheme.
@gujranwala789: "I do not know why these ex-musharraf supporters take disguise of being PTI supporters to spoil each and every news related to positive initiatives taken by PMLN."
I couldn't see any positive initiative out of this news outrun. However, I was thinking precisely the same about this ex-supporter of Musharraf (Tariq Azeem), who is now on the band wagon of the party of hypocrites aka PML-N.
people of Pakistan, this is the time. it’s now or never stop supporting the looters cheaters, we need a change why are we supporting few family to ruin our lives. please support PTI and stand for a change.
really?
Laptop? Internships? bribe and threat? what not?
A "lota" is calling kettle black. Mr.Tariq, you should be ashamed of yourself. You enjoyed full benefits during the days of Musharraf and now you have jumped into the boat of one who instead of staying in the country like Nelson Mandella ran away from the country. As far as public funds are concerned both the parties are spending it extravagantly at the cost of coming generations. When Pervaiz Elahi left there was surplus money in the Punjab exchequer and now the overdraft is running in billions. Big brother Maharaja Nawaz Instead of putting Pakistan Railways, the backbone for the economy and defence of the country, on the right track wasted money on motorways and yellow cabs and little brother Raja Shehbaz instead of doing something for the power crisis is squandering money on sasti roti and laptops. None of them realizes a simple thing that countries prosper by establishing factories to produce cars and laptops and not by giving them free or on easy terms on borrowed money which the future generations will have to pay.
@Fahd: Well the resources ( laptops, cabs, tractors and houses) were distributed throughout province and in accordance with population.
Secondly, as far as road infrastructure is concern where lahore and its surroundings are concentrated with half of the province vehicles and development there does make sense. And similarly in limited resources meeting top priorities is a common sense too.
Beside that there are many other projects for other cities of Punjab according to their needs i.e. hospitals, medical colleges, schools etc etc.
''Pot is calling me black''- Kettel
heading should be: "PPP is trying to buy voters just like us"
Look who's talking! Pot is calling kettle black.
PML-N is no different, its only that they are disguising it differently. They are giving away laptops for the very same reason. PPP & PML-N are standing on the very same platform doing things similarly if seen from correct vantage points.
@Iram, compare Punjab with other provinces and you will know the difference. Punjab is way ahead even though PPP has tried to curtail and block the development being done by the PML-N
PPP leaders and workers including the BISP staff tries to buy votes on the name of BISP support. In all offices of BISP they are telling this amount is given by the Banzir Bhutto and the yoy must vote heagain in the upcoming elections
@ Umair: Please elaborate on what is visible?? Punjab does not mean lahore, it means punjab starting from rajanpur to attock.
PML-N and PPP are doing the same job for buying the votes but in different manners and methods because 1-PML-N is buying the votes by distributing the laptops in the youths and 2-PPP is buying the votes by running Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and by giving Rs.1000/woman monthly and sometimes approximately Rs. 20000 or more per family per month. But one thing is confirmed and similar in PML-N's and PPP's agenda,id est,both are making Pakistan indebted by getting loans from the international financial institutions,USA and IMF on the heavy markups,to run their these mentioned above programs......
@Ahmed Zawar
What they have done in Punjab is atleast visible but where PPP's fund going no one knows.
You guys are doing the same in Punjab. Begin the change from yourselves first