Punjab bureaucracy protest a rebellion: Bilawal

SUKKUR: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the protest of Punjab bureaucracy was a rebellion and proclamation of war against the state.

He expressed these views while talking to media persons here on Sunday. He said, “The nation is not even concerned about why former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified.” The PPP chairman said that the nation did not care about the Panama Papers controversy and Iqama. He went on to say that the main issues of the country were not being discussed. He added that the nation was more concerned about the inflation rate, health and education.

Criticising former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the PPP chairman said that he pressurised judges when the verdicts of the case went against him. He accused him of forgiving a military dictator. Bilawal said,”You were given life sentence but did not appeal against the sentence. When you came back to Pakistan, you were forgiven”. He stated that the ruling party did not stop complaining despite ruling in the Centre, Azad Kashmir and Punjab. “State institutions are being sold at nominal costs while personal airlines are operating in the country and national airliner is being sold,” he said. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that policies of confrontation were not in the interest of the country and democracy. He said, “Every life is precious. Saving one life is equal to saving the entire humanity.” He added that a political party gave preference to a city for the past five year but the PPP focused on the construction of schools, colleges, universities and six major hospitals throughout the province.

Meanwhile, PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan blamed Punjab government and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for provoking protests against the arrest of Ahad Cheema, former director general of Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

Talking to media in Lahore, Aitzaz Ahsan called the protest rebellion against the state and said the centre was also involved in creating the hoopla. “They are not just favourites they are brats,” Aitzaz Ahsan said about the Sharif brothers adding that they wanted a judge like Justice Qayyum and a bureaucrat like Cheema.

According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ahad Cheema by misusing authority and with criminal intent awarded a contract of the Ashiana-e-Iqbal project of approximately Rs14 billion to Lahore Casa Developers, a joint venture which was ineligible for the contract. He is also accused of receiving illegal gratification in the form of a 32 kanal land valuing Rs30.09 million approximately from the owners of Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd.

Cheema is currently in NAB custody on an 11-day remand. His arrest led to friction between NAB and the Punjab government which traded accusations after the arrest. A group of bureaucrats also resorted to protest after the arrest. A private TV channel reported on Saturday. -- Agencies