May 14, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 15, 1427

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LAHORE, May 13: The Punjab PPP Executive on Saturday urged the Supreme Court to order an inquiry into the sugar crisis and the situation wheat growers were having to face because of no buyers for their produce.

At a meeting under the chairmanship of Mr Qasim Zia, the participants discussed the situation at length and held that such situations could be averted in the future only if the apex court took serious notice of the matter.

Secretary-General Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan told reporters after the meeting that wheat yield this year had been much less and the commodity was also not being purchased by the relevant government agencies. As a result, he said, growers who had purchased all inputs at inflated rates were facing double misery.

He said the situation showed that the ensuing cotton crop would be adversely affected.

Rana said the law and order situation was deteriorating by the day and the government had failed to control it.

New Information Secretary Farzana Raja said the Chief Election Commissioner should take serious notice of the political activities of Gen Pervez Musharraf. She said the general’s participation in the meetings of the ruling PML amounted to pre-poll rigging.

She paid tributes to party workers who had held camps across the province to protest against the rising prices, joblessness and poverty. Although camps were to be held for one day, the workers held them for full one week, which showed their sympathy for the common man.

Farzana, who is also a member of the Punjab Assembly, said the party was preparing a strategy to highlight people’s problems at the divisional headquarters. Also, she said, the PPP would come up with its plans to solve the most serious problems facing the people. She said preparations for the next elections also came under discussion and three names for every constituency had been presented by the relevant leaders. Candidates for the constituencies would be selected from these lists.

She ridiculed the Punjab government’s plan to promote literacy. She alleged that many education centres had been turned into cattle pens or entertainment centres for influential people. Facilities to be given to children were being enjoyed by the employees of these-called schools, she said.

Rana Aftab said it had been decided that any office-bearer relieved of his duties would be given a farewell and his successor a reception by the party. Senior Vice-President Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas denied reports that the party was divided on any issue.