LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf information secretary Fawad Chaudhry says the PML-N’s disintegration has begun with the resignation of its eight legislators from south Punjab.

He says the PTI is standing with the people of south Punjab who were deprived of even basic amenities like safe drinking water.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Mr Chaudhry said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s rule was the worst example of dictatorship and not a single district was satisfied with his government. He said the federal government had transferred Rs1,000bn to Punjab during the past one decade but abject poverty was reigning supreme.

Referring to ‘massive corruption’ in the Saaf Pani Company, Mr Chaudhry said the project’s cost stood at Rs70bn but not a single village was provided with safe drinking water and even the chief secretary had acknowledged this fact before the chief justice.

Talking about a new province in south Punjab, the PTI information secretary supported the demand, saying more provinces should be created to administer the ever-growing population. However, he added, this sensitive issue needed consensus of all the political parties.

Mr Chaudhry dispelled the impression that PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a meeting with former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar for the latter’s joining the PTI. He, however, added that nobody knew what would happen in the future in the game of politics.

Answering a question that agencies and establishment were pressurizing the PML-N candidates to join PTI, Mr Chaudhry said the PML-N leadership was in power and such statements did not suit it.

Published in Dawn, Aprill 10th, 2018