Local bodies politics: Opposition legislators cry foul over timing of funds release

Claim provincial govt is trying to tilt upcoming elections in ruling party’s favour.

RAWALPINDI:

Elected representatives from the opposition parties have criticised the Punjab government for sanctioning funds for uplift schemes, terming the timing an “attempt to influence the local government elections”.

They said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been ruling the province for the last six years but no development project was launched except for a few costly flyovers.

The government has sanctioned Rs2 billion for uplift schemes, Rs1 billion of which will be released this year. The funds were sanctioned with local government elections in the province just around the corner.



“The funds will be spent to influence voters as the PML-N has lost popularity in Rawalpindi,” said Ijaz Khan Jazi, a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf member of the provincial assembly, while also calling the move “pre-poll rigging”. He said the funds will be utilised before the election schedule is announced so the election commission cannot take action against the government.

The incumbent commissioner and district coordination officer (DCO) have asked local PML-N leaders to identify union councils where the funds can be spent on uplift schemes. According to sources, the local leaders have already given this list to the district government.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed said the elected parliamentarians have been ignored and the money will be misused in the elections. “The projects started by the previous government have been lying incomplete,” said Rasheed, adding that the government is unaware of the real issues of the city.



“However, this has confirmed that we will win the local bodies elections,” he claimed. He said major issues in the city like traffic congestion, water shortages, education and health problems have been ignored.

“The money spent on flyovers, if diverted to the construction of the Leh Expressway, could resolve traffic problems of the city,” he said. Referring to the Children Hospital and Murree Water Project, he said shelved projects should be completed first.

Pakistan Peoples Party leader Amir Fida Paracha said the PML-N is aware of the fate awaiting it in the local government elections as it has failed to fulfil the promises it made during the general elections.

According to the DCO office, Rs150 million will be spent in each Union Council. Local opposition legislators also alleged that the provincial government was using delay tactics while releasing their uplift funds.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2013.