PESHAWAR: PML-N has launched a campaign to counter the opposition parties’ anti-Nawaz plan by pinpointing their corrupt practices and warned that every party will have to face accountability in case they do not stop maligning Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the issue of Panama leaks.

The warning came from party’s senior vice-president Engineer Amir Muqam, who is also adviser to the prime minister, while speaking at a workers convention at Gulbahar here on Sunday.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman himself was involved in offshore companies and had to face accountability. He said that Jamaat-i-Islami was a coalition partner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government where advertisements appeared in media about involvement of its minister in corruption, but no action was taken against the relevant people.

He also talked about resignation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission retired Gen Hamid and Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (Pedo) board of directors’ chairman Shakeel Durrani and BoK’s problem, describing all these issues as ‘Khyber leaks’. He claimed that Pedo’s BoD chairman had resigned due to massive corruption in the organisation.

Muqam says parties to face accountability if they do not stop anti-Nawaz drive

He said that JI chief Sirajul Haq enthusiastically marched in train from Peshawar to Karachi to raise voice against corruption of the federal government but he did not bother to take action against his own party men facing charges of corruption.

“Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is also shouting against PML-N, but he is unable to bring his father Asif Ali Zardari back home who is in self-exile like Altaf Hussain of MQM,” Mr Muqam said.

He recalled that corruption had increased during the PPP government to the extent that people called Zardari Mr 10 per cent, but he could not remove the stigma so far.

Referring to his party candidate’s success in the by-elections on PK-8 Peshawar and winning of Town-4 nazim seat, he claimed that the future government in KP would be of PML-N.

He said that the PTI chief should fulfil his election commitments to bring change in life of the people. He said that the ministers were once removed under charges of corruption, but again inducted into the cabinet for personal gains.

Mr Muqam recalled that that Mr Khan had promised to construct 360 new dams in KP to overcome energy crisis and provide free of cost education and health facilities, but none of the commitments were fulfilled and rather the position of government departments further worsened due to negligence and lack of capacity on part of the ministers. He said that local government elections were held in KP, but the elected representatives were yet to get powers, funds and offices.

“There is no Mr 10 per cent or Raja Rental in Nawaz’s cabinet,” he claimed and asked the opposition parties to avoid confrontational politics.

“We will fulfil all of our commitments made during the by-elections in Peshawar regarding power and gas supply to the people irrespective of their affiliations,” he said. He appreciated his team for activating workers and announced that conventions would be held in different districts to reorganise the party in the province.

Earlier, Mr Muqam paid tribute to Abdul Sattar Edhi for his services to the humanity. He also appreciated the people of Turkey for supporting democracy and crushing the anti-government uprising. Nasir Khan Musazai and Haji Sifatullah also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2016