‘There is unprecedented last-minute plundering’

PTI demands protocol, privileges be withdrawn at midnight.

LAHORE:

The federal and provincial governments have been accused by the Tehreek-i-Insaf of ‘plundering’ and ‘looting’ the exchequer even during their final minutes in power.

A press release issued on Saturday quoted PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mahmood as saying that there were credible reports that summaries were being approved and money was being doled out from the exchequer. “This loot sale [sic] of the state on the last day of the federal and provincial government” is unprecedented, he said.

He criticised the provincial governments too for “approving last minute summaries” and giving “unprecedented facilities” to departing ministers and members of parliament and provincial assemblies.

Mehmood demanded that all protocol and privileges be withdrawn from political office holders after midnight.

He also criticised advertisement campaigns extolling government achievements, which he said were being run with state resources in violation of Election Commission directives. He asked the Election Commission to take notice of it.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2013.