GUJAR KHAN: Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Monday virtually launched Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) campaign for local bodies’ elections in Punjab.

Addressing a press conference at his Sanghar House in the village Dhoke Amb, he recounted the development projects launched by the last PPP regime.

During the press conference, former Tehsil nazim Chaudhry Abrar Rashid, a sympathiser of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and others from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced their decision to join the PPP.

For the first time after his defeat in 2013 general elections, Raja Pervez Ashraf unleashed severe criticism on his political rivals.

He said MPA Raja Shauket Aziz Bhatti of the PML-N had been stopped from attending the assembly proceedings as he held ‘fake’ degree and the seat had virtually been suspended for the last over two years.

The former prime minister said he had brought unprecedented development funds and public friendly projects including passport office, railway under pass, road networks, gas to the villages of petroleum rich tehsil while his opponents after winning elections only promoted police culture and corruption through ‘Patwaris’.

Mr Pervez claimed that PPP was the only party which enjoyed popularity from Karachi to Gilgit Baltistan and it was the symbol of federation.

He said that working on the guidelines of its founding chairman Zuilfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, PPP during its regime enhanced salaries of government employees and daily wagers, provided jobs, safeguarded interests of farmers by ensuring food security, initiated Benazir income support programme for the destitute and launched energy projects.

Chaudhry Abrar Rashid while addressing on the occasion termed Pervez Ashraf a genuine leader from Pothohar region who though sheer hard work became prime minister.

He said Raja Pervez had fulfilled his commitment to developing Gujar Khan tehsil.

Mr Rashid said the PML-N representatives had ignored people and relied more police and thana culture to promote their vested interests.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

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