Kissan Package an attempt to rig local govt polls, says Elahi

PML-Q leader says provinces being made to contribute funds to the package

LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said on Friday the government had announced the Prime Minister’s Kissan Package to rig the upcoming local government elections.

Addressing a press conference, the former deputy prime minister said that of the Rs341 billion, Rs120 billion were to be contributed by provinces. He said the package had been announced without consultation with the provinces.

“Why should the Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments contribute funds for a scheme aimed at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s publicity?” he asked.

Read: PM announces Rs341 billion relief package for farmers

Elahi also criticised the package and said that no relief had been announced in it for wheat, vegetables and sugarcane growers. He accused the Punjab government of trying to influence the elections’ outcome with help from DCOs and the police. The PML-Q leader said the government had yet to follow up on several mega-projects announced by it. “Where are the gold reserves of Chiniot-Rajua? Farmers have been advised to install solar-power tube-wells… but the government has yet to test a single solar powered tubewell on its own,” Elahi said.

PML-Q leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said the National Accountability Bureau had not questioned the party. “We did not do any corruption. We had only served people,” he said.

MNA Tariq Bashir Cheema and and Tanvir Azam Cheema were also present.

PPP objection

Pakistan Peoples Party Punjab general secretary Tanvir Ashraf Kaira said the government would fail to implement the Prime Minister’s Kissan Package.

He said the major problem faced by farmers was lack of support prices of various products. He said middle man often deprive growers of their due dividends. He said that the government should direct the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to purchase agriculture produces from growers according to the support price.

“This will ensure due dividends for the growers which is not possible in the presence of middle men,” Kaira said. He objected to what he called an aggressive publicity campaign at the expense of public exchequer to promote the package.

He said that almost all opposition parties had reservations over the announcement of the package ahead of local government elections in Sindh and the Punjab. He also accused the DCOs and the police in the Punjab of engaging in pre-poll rigging.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2015.