Did you serve?: Politicians reveal, or hide, their stellar job

Leaders elaborate on important contributions they made in their constituencies.

ISLAMABAD:

The poll body’s nomination paper question asking politicians about their “single most important contribution” in constituencies during the last tenure was handled in interesting, and sometimes, a tell-tale manner, The Express Tribune has discovered. 

“Not much,” wrote PML-N’s Abdul Qadir Baloch. “Because I was in Opposition,” he justified.

JUI-F’s Maulana Fazlur Rahman, who contested from three constituencies, left the space blank, as did PTI’s Javed Hashmi and Shah Mahmood Quershi. But PTI Chief Imran Khan, contesting from Lahore, Mianwali, Peshawar and Rawalpindi had to attach an additional sheet to finish his response.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, chief of Awami Muslim League, claimed that he set a world record by establishing 60 schools in his constituency NA-55.

On the other hand, two-time former premier Nawaz Sharif wrote that he had “served the people of the Punjab as chief minister and served the people of Pakistan as prime minister.” His younger brother,  Shahbaz Sharif, who is a party nominee for chief minister of Punjab wrote that he “spent Rs605.5 billion on development projects.”

A landlord with a clean slate

Makhdoom Amin Fahim elected from Sindh introduced himself as a ‘land lord’ in the nomination papers. He also said no criminal cases were pending against him in any court.

However, the Federal Investigation Agency is investigating corruption charges against him in the NICL land scam case.

Careful omissions

Former premier, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, contesting from NA-51 in Gujjar Khan, skipped the question.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf did not mention the case concerning the misuse of his discretionary powers for appointing a relative on a lucrative post, in his nomination papers, even though the Islamabad.

He did mention the Rental Power Project case, though, in which Supreme Court of Pakistan pronounced a judgment against him.

Road projects and colleges

PTI’s designated chief minister for KP, Pervez Khattak, mentioned a road project as his most important work for his constituency. Khattak was also elected member of national assembly from NA-5.

PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal mentioned that his single most important contribution for his constituency is the setting up of a UET Lahore Campus at Narowal. PTI’s Abrarul Haq mentioned his profession as show business and garments shop in his nomination papers.

Meanwhile, Former Deputy Prime Minster and former chief minister of Punjab, Pervez Elahi mentioned that “he tried to develop the rural economy.”

Awami National Party’s chief Asfandyar Wali Khan replied that he established Bacha Khan University in his constituency NA-7, Charsadda.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2013.

Correction: An earlier version of the article incorrectly stated that Sheikh Rasheed was the chief of Awami National Party. The error is regretted.