FAISALABAD, Dec 14: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his cabinet are answerable to the Punjab Assembly and the government has no dispute with Governor Salmaan Taseer, if he performs his duty in accordance with the constitution.

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Punjab President Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa said this on Sunday at a press conference at the residence of the senior minister Raja Riaz Ahmed. He said the coalition in the Punjab was tackling the issues with mutual consultation.

The Punjab government had appointed the provincial ombudsman after fulfilling all legal formalities, he said. Standing committees had been formed in the Punjab Assembly and the cabinet would be extended after consulting the coalition partners.

He said the chief minister and his team had served the masses efficiently and unearthed Rs167 billion embezzlement through the audit of local councils. He said the government was not mulling to wrap up the local government system, however, checks and balances were being introduced in the system.

Mr Riaz said both coalition partners – PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) -- were cooperating with each others to run the government smoothly. He said both Mr Shahbaz and Mr Taseer should perform their constitutional duties.

He praised the political vision of Mr Khosa, adding the latter had been a source of learning for him.

Earlier, addressing party workers and office-bearers at Circuit House, Mr Khosa said plundering of public money was the priority of the former regime during their nine year of rule.

However, PML-N leaders were trying to mend the government departments’ irregularities. The chief minister had been working 18 hours a day and appointed honest and dedicated officers in all parts of the province to provide basic necessities of life to public.

He said there was no room for turncoats and the PML-N acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by its workers during the dictatorship epoch. He urged workers to be united as the country had been facing severe external threats.