MULTAN, Nov 1: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi landed in Muzaffargarh on Thursday just two weeks ahead of the culmination of his government. During the past five years of his rule, he visited the district for the first time. Earlier, he toured the district when Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz came here to lay foundation stone of Chenab Bridge in May 2005. His only tour to the district shows how badly the district was ignored.

Political conflicts between the government and PPP-backed District Nazim Qayyum Jatoi brought miseries to 3.2 million people of Muzaffargarh because development funds could not be used due to government’s efforts to oust Mr Jatoi from the office.

Jamshed Dasti, acting convener of the district assembly, said President Pervez Musharraf never took any action against the chief minister for derailing the system in Muzaffargarh.

He said people faced troubles due to blockage of funds and even necessary medicines were not available in any hospital or health centre in the district.

He said the district nazim had moved the Lahore High Court, Multan bench, regarding illegal acts of the Punjab government and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed had directed Multan District and Sessions Court Judge Saifur Rehman to preside over a district council session on Nov 10 wherein a penal of presiding officers would be elected. A senior member of the penal will preside over the budget session. He said the judge had directed the Muzaffargarh district coordination officer to go on leave two days ahead of the session so that he could not influence the nazims. He said the judge also directed the Dera Ghazi Khan deputy inspector general to ensure the presence of members in the session. He said the district nazim would present his budget and if district council members refused his budget, another budget prepared by the Punjab government would be presented for approval.