SIALKOT, March 10: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has uprooted the recently laid pipelines from the rural areas of NA-111 (Bajwat-Sialkot) after the defeat of PML-Q candidate and National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Ameer Husain in elections.

According to some locals, the move seems to be ‘punishment’ for not casting vote in favour of the PML-Q hopefuls.

People, belonging to Palora Kalan, Mehtpur, Rangpur Jattan, Chhani Astri, Haraaspur, Kessarey, Chhangey, Malaney and Dhool told newsmen on Monday that the SNGPL officials had uprooted all pipelines which they had laid before Feb 18 general election just to motivate the people to vote for NA speaker Ameer Husain and former provincial minister Muhammad Ajmal Cheema in PP-121.

Some notables -- Dr Nawaz Naseem, former UC nazim Muhammad Ishaq, Sultan Ali, Muhammad Haneef and Muhammad Boota -- alleged that the pipelines had been uprooted following the pressure of Ameer Husain.

They said the SNGPL had put the gas supply project at the disposal of the newly elected representatives of Sialkot district.

The villagers said they would lodge an FIR against the SNGPL officials for `stealing the pipelines and shifting them to other unknown places.’ They said they would remove the inaugural plaques affixed there by NA speaker Ameer Husain.

A spokesman for the NA speaker refuted the allegations, while the SNGPL officials avoided comments.