Govt targeting Opp in the name of accountability, says Hamza Shahbaz

LAHORE :Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Hamza Shahbaz on Friday said that the government was indulged in vindictive activities against the opposition in the garb of accountability.

Talking to media outside Punjab Assembly on Friday, Hamza Shahbaz said that the government was indulged in vindictive activities against the opposition in the garb of accountability. He said, “Everyone knows about the so-called accountability process being spearheaded by the government.” He regretted that people were facing immense starvation in new Pakistan.

Earlier, a debate on annual report of Public Service Commission (PSC) could not be initiated in Punjab Assembly on Friday with lukewarm response of members as most of them were not present in the session.

The morning session started about two hours late. Treasury benches raised absence of members of the assembly who were out on production orders.

The Provincial Law Minister was furious over absence of Hamza Shahbaz from the house.

Treasury member Zaheeruddin said that opposition members were busy in other activities and they just arrived in Assembly building to make attendance.

The Law Minister presented PSC report 2017 for discussion.

He said that all appointments being made by PSC were on merit. He added that no one can influence the process of hiring being done by PSC. He informed the house that hiring process by PSC had been reduced to 52 days from 280 days.

Chairman of the session, Mian Shafi asked opposition to come forward for initiating debate on PSC report.

However, only a couple of opposition members were present on the occasion and they too did not show willingness for having discussion. The PML-N MPA Mehwish Sultana was of the view that they were not intimated about holding of debate on PSC report and requested to discuss it on Monday. Chairman of the House agreed to the suggestion and said that debate on PSC annual report would be held on coming Monday.

Meanwhile, Malik Waris Kallu, PML-N MPA insisted to discuss PSC performance. However, Provincial Minister Zahreeruddin said that opposition members did not participate in the debate and even after issuance of production orders they were not attending the session.

On the other hand, Mehwish Sultana expressed serious concern over allowing construction of plants in Chakwal saying these would pollute the local environment. She was of the view that previous government had imposed a ban on setting up plants in the area; however, present government allowed for the same. The chairman asked the minister concerned for submitting reply on the issue on Monday.