VEHARI, Jan 11: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam government executed development projects worth Rs130 billion in Southern Punjab, former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi said while addressing a party meeting in Fadda Town locality of Mailsi, some 45 kilometres away from here, on Friday.

Nazims, party workers and leaders gathered at the residence of PML-Q candidate for NA-170 Aurangzaib Khichi.

He said being the chief minister, he started with Rs20 billion development budget which had now increased up to Rs150 billion.

The Punjab PML-Q president said his party wanted the devolution system introduced by President Pervez Musharraf to flourish while the PPP and PML-N opposed it.

He alleged that the Sharif brothers had been disqualified for contesting the elections. “Both are responsible for unrest in Punjab,” he opined.

The former chief minister claimed that neither the PPP nor Benazir Bhutto herself was a symbol of the federation, rather it was the PML-Q which was a symbol of the federation because it had roots in all the four provinces.

He said the PML-Q promoted the politics of development while the PPP and PML-N promoted corruption and plundered the national exchequer.

He said that during his stint as chief minister, he took unprecedented steps to make education and healthcare accessible to the poor segments of society.

He alleged that PML-N had become “B-team” of Asif Zardari and better they should stop using the name of Pakistan Muslim League.

He said the PML-Q kept its election activities suspended in respect of Benazir Bhutto, but it was regrettable that some people took it as their weakness.

He questioned that who was responsible for the massive looting and plundering carried out during three-day mourning in which hundreds of banks, stores and jeweller’s shop were ransacked while many petrol and gas filling stations beside several Pakistan Railway’s coaches and locomotives were torched, causing a loss worth billions of rupees to the national exchequer. He said many PML-Q offices were also set on fire. “We have proof that Shahbaz Sharif incited PML-N workers on ransacking PML-Q offices.”

He said there was no political future of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif and their only objective was to harm the country’s interests.

He said the PPP would be PML-Q’s main rival in the forthcoming elections and we would win the polls with a thumping majority.

He said during its five-year rule under the guidance of President Musharraf, the party took unprecedented steps for the betterment of Christian community including giving them right of double vote and ownership rights to the residents of Katchi Abadis.

He urged the people to vote for the PML-Q so that the process of development could continue uninterrupted.

Around 3,000 participants attended the PML-Q’s ‘indoor’ meeting and all PML-Q’s candidates for district’s four national and eight provincial assembly slots were provided with administration’s what the sources called ‘full shelter’.

Earlier, Pervaiz Elahi visited Sheikh Fazal Town of Burewala and paid homage at the shrine of Allah Dad Saho.

Later, he addressed a gathering at the residence of Noor Mohd Saho which was attended by around 500 people.

He highlighted the PML-Q’s development programme in Southern Punjab and especially mentioned the provision of gas to Vehari district. He condemned the Thursday’s suicide attack in GPO Chowk in Lahore.

Strict security measurers were adopted for the former chief minister’s meetings.