PAT Punjab issues white paper on performance of Shahbaz Government

Addressing a white paper on the five-year performance of the Shahbaz government, PAT Punjab has said that the last five years are full of incidents of corruption, nepotism, killings of political workers, lies, violation of merit, foreign loans, and the loot and plunder of the provincial kitty through the public sector companies. Shahbaz Sharif, who claimed to break the begging bowl, has indebted the provincial economy which had a surplus budget in 2007 to the tune of Rs. 600 billion. The resources were looted with both hands through relatives and front men and by setting up public sector companies and today all these cases are under investigation with NAB and the SC.

The white paper said that the former provincial cabinet paid tributes to corrupt officer Ahad Cheema. Shahbaz Sharif, who is responsible for Model Town tragedy, created hurdles in the way of justice and it was after the SC Chief Justice took notice of the delay that the hearings of the case started hearing on daily basis. The Punjab police resorted to draconian tactics during the days of revolution march and political agitation. Thousands of the PAT workers were picked up and cases including anti-terrorism cases were registered against them. The jails were turned into torture cells. The Punjab police was turned into a political force of the ruling party. From SHO to senior police officers, transfers and postings were carried out on the political recommendations of the local MNAs and MPAs. The officers so appointed in violation of merit obliged their powerful patrons by fulfilling their unfair demands, thus increasing and condoning crime in the province.

The white paper said that the province which was topping the list in terms of crimes, also fared poorly vis-à-vis women and children rights. The claim of ending the load-shedding also turned out to be false. Despite ruling the province for ten years, the government of the N League failed to provide 100% missing facilities. Even today, 50% of higher secondary schools are without labs and science teachers. Till 2007, facility of the free medical treatment in emergencies of the hospitals was available but it is not the case anymore. Lady health workers, nurses and young doctors took out demonstrations to protest the discriminatory attitude of the government towards the health sector.

The white paper further stated that administrative structure of the province was destroyed by appointing junior blue-eyed officers to the senior administrative positions. It happened for the first time that the PCS officers had to go on strike against the government policies. It was also unprecedented in the history of the province that the government officers observed strike in support of corrupt bureaucrat Ahad Khan Cheema at the behest of the government. So much so that the civil secretariat was locked out during this campaign.

The white paper said that prices of foodstuff and vegetables registered an increase to the tune of 30% to 40%. The farmers did a long march against the government’s anti-agriculture policies. The prices of meat shot up by 200% despite establishment of a public meat company. It demanded that third party audit should be conducted into various projects of the previous government so that the people could know the truth.

The white paper was collectively issues by PAT Central Punjab President Basharat Jaspal, South Punjab President Fayyaz Warraich, and Central Punjab President Brig. (r) Mushtaq.