MANSEHRA: PML-N MNA Mohammad Sajjad Awan has alleged that the PTI government is using the National Accountability Bureau to oppress the opposition’s lawmakers.

“Our family has been facing the NAB crackdown since the PTI formed government in the centre through a stolen public mandate in the 2018 elections. The so-called anti-corruption watchdog sent its teams in thrice to ‘unearth’ irregularities in the development funds used by my brother, retired Captain Mohammad Safdar, as MNA but failed miserably,” he told reporters in Darband area of Oghi tehsil on Saturday.

Mr Awan, whose brother retired Captain Safdar is the son-in-law of former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, said the PTI government was victimising its political rivals, especially Sharifs, to cover up its wrong policies and weaknesses.

“The nation still loves Sharifs and considered them to be the saviour of the country. The PTI government has put the country on the brink of bankruptcy and inflation in the name of change,” he said.

MNA Sajjad insists PDM will oust rulers

The PML-N lawmaker said the people had welcomed the opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement and supported it to oust the PTI government.

He said the time was not far off when the PTI would be out of power due to the PDM’s struggle.

SEALED: The district administration on Saturday sealed over a dozen shops, filling stations and hotels over the violation of coronavirus-related standard operating procedures.

The action came during a surprise visit of assistant commissioner Jawad Sardar Marwat to different parts of the city and its outskirts.

He also fined many shopkeepers for profiteering.

Mr Marwat told reporters that the crackdown would continue on hoarding and profiteering across the district.

“We cannot allow anyone to fleece consumers and will enforce fruit and vegetable prices fixed on a daily basis for the relief of people.

FLOUR SALE POINTS: The district food department has increased the number of sale points of the subsidised wheat flour.

District food controller Shad Mohammad told reporters on Saturday that the department sold over 9,344 20kg flour bags daily across the district.

He said the flour sale points totalled 137.

“We are selling around 9,344 flour bags at the subsidised price of Rs860 to the relief of the people,” he said.

Mr Shad said the teams of the administration and his department regularly paid visits to all 14 flour mills being supplied wheat quota for quality control.

He said there was no flour shortage in the district and his department’s godowns had more wheat than what was required by the administration.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2021