Imran’s Attempts To Rig Gilgit-Baltistan Elections Jeopardising Pakistan’s National Interest, Benefiting Country’s Enemies – PMLN
ISLAMABAD: PMLN Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal has warned Imran Khan that his ongoing interference and prepoll rigging efforts in Gilgit-Baltistan will jeopardise Pakistan’s national interest because that region is of extreme importance strategically and geopolitically.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad flanked by former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Secretary lnformation Marriyum Aurangzeb, Ahsan said the entire world is watching closely and Pakistan’s enemies are rooting and working for political turmoil, unrest and dissent in the Gilgit-Baltistan with this elections that come at a crucial time. Therefore, he stressed, it is extremely important to hold free, fair, transparent and well organised elections in the region that reflect the true aspirations of the people, so that they are not disgruntled.
The PMLN Secretary General said the federal government has violated the constitution by appointing partisan individuals in the caretaker Gilgit-Baltistan government, instead of nonpartisan people that would have ensured transparency. He also mentioned how Imran Niazi’s office tried to block last fiscal quarter’s development fund to sabotage the PMLN government’s already ongoing development projects. Ahsan warned Imran that if he intervened in anyway to make the Gilgit-Baltistan elections disputed he would be playing with Pakistan’s national interest and doing a favour to the enemies of the country.
Ahsan also urged all national institutions to ensure that the elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Ahsan said the PMLN government in Gilgit-Baltistan had done great work for the people from building unprecedented network of roads, erecting hospitals, establishing schools and colleges. He told the press how the PMLN government in Gilgit-Baltistan handled the new coronavirus in the most efficient manner where 1200 out of the 1400 patients were cured and the remaining are on their way to recovery. He pointed out that PMLN conducted 300 to 400 tests everyday, which is a high number considering the population. But Ahsan pointed out that after the end of PMLN term, the testing has been reduced to 50 tests a day which has increased the alarm of resurgence of the disease due to lack of tracking.
Ahsan also condemned the slashing of salaries of university employees and said an increase of fees is likely to follow. He said this government has pushed all universities of the country into financial debt. He said Punjab government is in the process of passing a law that will appoint a Chairman Syndicate at every university which will work parallel to the Vice Chancellors and open doors to politicisation of the institutions. He condemned this move and said the PMLN will oppose this measure.
Speaking at the press conference, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi brought to light the Imran-led government’s latest episode of corruption in the provision of sugar to Utility stores. He told the media that instead of opening a new tender to get the best price, the PTI government procured sugar for the Utility Stores Rs 8 per kg more than the bulk rate offered by Mills earlier for 60,000 tones which accounts for over Rs 50 million corruption. He told that the Mills had offered a rate of Rs 70 per kg but the government bought it at Rs 78.33 per kg to benefit Imran’s friends.
Pakistan is not being filled by any political party government, it is hein run, exploited and looted by a government that can best be described as ‘Friends Of Khan Government’, he said. Even after inquiries, reports, actions the price of sugar hasn’t come to Rs 55 which is the real price. He urged the Supreme court to take suo motto action over this and said PMLN too will file a petition in this regards.
Abbasi said even after over Rs 180 billion loot from Pakistanis and this Rs 50 million corruption, the stores are still short of sugar and the misery of the people continues. He also pointed out that the government gave Rs 45 billion subsidy to the utility stores the fruits of which are nowhere to be seen and nobody know which friend of Imran Niazi bagged that massive amount.
The former Prime Minister said this PTI government is the most corrupt government in the history of the country and once they will leave office, which will be very soon, it will start becoming clear how much was looted from which department under this regime.
Abbasi promised the people that PMLN will continue to investigate and highlight the dacoities of this government, the corrupt practices and blunders to the people of Pakistan. He said PMLN will not be a part of any undemocratic, unconstitutional step.
