LAHORE: The five years of Shahbaz Sharif have been a pack of lies coupled with corruption, nepotism, violation of merit, nabbing of political workers, foreign loans and plunder of provincial exchequer through formation of companies, claims a white paper issued by the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT).

Issued here on Wednesday on the completion of five years of PML-N government, the paper said the chief minister, who claimed to break the begging bowl, made Punjab indebted over Rs600 billion – a province that had a surplus budget in 2007.

“He obliged his front men and kinsmen with 51 corrupt companies and blindly plundered provincial exchequer; these companies are under trial in courts and NAB. ‘Corrupt’ bureaucrat Ahad Cheema was given support in a cabinet meeting,” the paper says.

“Shahbaz Sharif, who is responsible for the Model Town massacre, has been a major hurdle in justice for the victim families for the last four years. Eventually, the chief justice took notice and the trial started. He turned police stations into torture cells, arrested thousands of PAT workers during Inqilab (revolution) march, unlawfully detained them, filed fake cases of terrorism against them and usurped their political rights.”

According to the white paper, Punjab for the past 10 years has remained number one province not just in police encounters but also in crimes against women and children, including abduction. The police were transformed into a political force, as everyone (from SHO to constables) was appointed and transferred from the Chief Minister Office on the recommendation of elected members of PML-N and they only promoted extortion, land mafia, and arrest of Political opponents.

His claim to end loadshedding just proved a lie.

The paper also claimed that the Shahbaz government failed to provide basic facilities to schools. Over 50 per cent of higher secondary schools still lack science teacher and laboratory and computer labs.

In the emergencies of government hospitals, treatment was 100pc free till 2007 but it is totally a different scenario now. Young doctors, nurses, lady health workers protested at the discriminatory treatment and oppressive tactics of the government. Many junior officers were appointed at senior posts which was nothing but worst demonstration of bad governance. For the first time, the PCS officers went on strike against discriminatory attitude of Shahbaz Sharif. For the first time, the secretariat was locked down just to protect a corrupt bureaucrat.

According to the paper, prices of milk, fruits, vegetables, and meat increased from 30 to 40pc in the last five years. The formation of a meat company led to increase in the prices of mutton and beef up to Rs200 per kilogram. Farmers protested as they did not get officially declared prices of wheat, rice and sugarcane.

The PAT demanded third-party audit of 51 companies, Sasti Roti (low priced bread) Scheme, Food Support Programme, Metro Bus and Orange Line projects.

The PAT will observe end of Shahbaz government as emancipation day with special prayers.

The white paper was issued collectively by central Punjab President Basharat Jaspal, south Punjab President Fayyaz Warraich, and north Punjab President retired Brig Mushtaq Lila on behalf of the party.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2018