LAHORE: Punjab PPP President Raja Pervaiz Ashraf says inflation has broken the record of the last 21 months as the PTI has completely failed to govern the country.

He was talking to the media after some local PML-N leaders announced joining the PPP here on Wednesday.

Mr Ashraf also chided the PML-N for what he said only favouring the development of urban centres and giving funds to posh areas during its rule.

He said the government was beating around the bush instead of sitting with the opposition to discuss the electronic voting machines and setting parameters and codes for the electoral exercise.

He admitted that the Election Commission of Pakistan could not go beyond the (election) law(s) enacted by the parliament, but it would have to satisfy the reservations of the opposition regarding the EVMs before using the voting machines in the election.

General Secretary Hassan Murtaza demanded a transparent inquiry into the video scandal in which some purported PML-N workers are offering cash against votes for the party nominee for NA-133 by-polls.

Denying that the PPP was using similar tactics, he said the party believed in the public support and not a mandate based on vote buying.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2021