DERA GHAZI KHAN: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday lambasted his political opponents who, he said, could not prove allegations of corruption against him.

He spoke to a gathering at Daanish School after inaugurating a Rs13 billion dual carriageway from Muzaffargarh to Dera Ghazi Khan. The project will be completed in June 2018.

Local public representatives, district council chairman, vice chairmen, mayor and deputy mayor received the chief minister.

He said the political opponents repeatedly levelled charges of corruption of Rs27 billion on him without any evidence and “I challenged them in court but Imran Khan did not turn up to prove the allegation.”

Opens dual carriageway project

“I was blamed by the political opponent that I had given Rs10 billion bribe to save Nawaz Sharif and family in the Panama case but again nothing could be proved,” he said.

He said during several visits to south Punjab during flood of 2010 he felt the real problems of people and decided to bring the area on a par with central Punjab in terms of development and provision of facilities.

He directed the district administration and police to cooperate with representatives of local government otherwise stern action would be taken against them.

He also talked about the project of provision of drinking water and said the government would give contract in November or December to provide safe and pure drinking water to 55 tehsils of Punjab.

He said he was elated to see such a huge gathering. He said the second bridge on Ghazi Ghat would be built but it would take time and before its accomplishment, a boat bridge would be installed to lessen the load of traffic.

He announced establishment of solid waste company in the district and kidney and cardiology wards at Dera Ghazi Khan teaching hospital.

After addressing the public gathering, the chief minister departed for Choti Zaireen with federal minister Awais Khan Leghari, MPA Jamal Khan Leghari, MPA Javed Akhtar Lound, MPA Mahmood Qadir Leghari and vice chairman Ahmed Khan Leghari. At Choti Zaireen, he visited a school established by Leghari family chief. He also placed floral wreath on the grave of former president Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari.

The chief minister also met the widow and other members of martyred constable Javed Iqbal’s family. He gave a cheque for Rs10 million to his widow and announced provision of a house for the family and other incentives such as job for the slain official’s son.

Constable Javed Iqbal of Anti-Terrorism Force Punjab was gunned down by terrorists on Aug 31 while he was coming back home after performing his duties.

Mr Sharif also announced mega projects of Muzaffargarh to Head Panjnad roads besides a campus of Bahauddin Zakariya University in Muzaffargarh. He said there would be no loadshedding in the country.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2017