LAHORE: The PML-N has questioned the source of funding for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek sit-ins at Islamabad continuing for the last one week.

At a press conference here on Thursday, the party’s media coordinator Muhammad Mehdi said at least 500 buses, 100 each coasters and vans were needed for transporting 30,000 activists of both parties to Islamabad. Given the per day rent for each bus, coaster and van calculated at Rs35,000, Rs25,000 and Rs20,000, respectively, the total transportation cost for eight days comes to the tune of Rs176 million, he said, quoting the figures from local transporters.

He said almost an equal amount was needed for providing three-meals-a-day to the activists, fuel for power generators, rent of light and sound systems, pushing the total costs to over Rs350 million, he said.

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The PML-N leader said the costs did not include the expenses made by 5,000 car riders and 1,500 motorcyclists who reportedly used their own vehicles for reaching Islamabad and staying there.

He asked what source of funding was being used to meet these expenses and demanded the organisers to make it public for the sake of transparency in the activities of these ‘corruption-free’ people.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014