MULTAN: Local MNAs and MPAs of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had a private audience with Chief Minister Usman Buzdar during his brief visit to the city on Sunday.

The chief minister arrived in Multan to distribute cheques among the families of the deceased and injured of a road accident near Ghazi Ghat on Oct 21.

Sources said the parliamentarians said no private or public people would be at the meeting, as they wanted to open their heart to the provincial chief executive. The chief minister granted them the audience at Circuit House where they demanded the transfer of Deputy Commissioner Mudassir Riaz Malik and City Police Officer Munir Masood Marth, saying that both the officers were not cooperating with them to resolve the issues of the people.

They said the chief minister assured them to resolve the issue. To clear the route of the chief minister, the police detained several people, holding a demonstration at Nishtar Chowk, in Nishtar Burn Unit. They were not allowed to leave the premises of the burn unit until the chief minister passed by.

Similarly, a large number of PTI workers, leaders and union councils’ representatives exchanged words with the police officials at the gate of Circuit House after they were denied entrance to the meeting venue. They were told that only those on the approved list would be allowed into.

The police pushed them to a nearby park and confined them for sometime.

PTI leader Qurban Fatima was among those who were denied entry to the Circuit House. She, however, created a scene at the spot. Soon, the depurty commissioner intervened and let her in. Later, she said that she was kept off the list deliberately. She said such attempts would demoralise PTI workers. She said the chief minister had invited her to Lahore for a detailed meeting where she would inform him about the deputy commissioner’s role.

Chairman Union Council No 35 Saleemullah Khan said he was not invited to attend the cheque distribution ceremony even though half of the victims were from his area.

Similarly, another chairman Asim Karloo was not invited to the ceremony despite the fact that several victims were from his union council.

MNA Ahmed Hussain Dehar was among the participants. He said that the chief minister assured the parliamentarians that no one would now create hurdles in resolving the issues of people.

“We never go to the bureaucracy for any undue favor and the CM assured that all the issues on merit now will be resolved,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2018