PESHAWAR: Pakistan Peoples Party has criticised the federal government for releasing development funds to treasury members of the national and provincial assemblies before the Senate elections and urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to take its notice.

PPP provincial spokesperson Senator Rubina Khalid in a statement here on Thursday described the approval of huge funds an attempt to encourage political horse-trading.

She pointed out that the government had also started releasing development funds and initiating different schemes in the constituencies wherein by-polls would be held next month.

“The government has adopted a discriminatory attitude by releasing

funds only to its members of the national and provincial assemblies while the opposition lawmakers have been ignored,” she said and added that it was duty of the ECP to ensure implementation of the relevant laws.

Senator Rubina said the government had also ignored women lawmakers who were playing a significant role in the legislation. She said that despite tall claims of Prime Minister Imran Khan to eradicate corruption the complaints about malpractices were on the rise.

She said the Transparency International had also issued a report about corruption in different countries wherein Pakistan stood at 124 out of 180 countries.

She claimed that Pakistan Democratic Movement would succeed to oust the government and rid the nation of ‘incompetent’ rulers soon.

She said office-bearers of opposition parties should step up efforts to mobilise public for the PDM’s protest gatherings.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2021