LAHORE – A resident of Gujranwala staged a protest on Thursday against the brother of Provincial Minister for Energy, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, over his alleged involvement in extorting money from various people on pretext of giving them employment.
Israr Ahmad resident of Noshehra Sansi carried a placard inscribed with the words “Brother of Provincial Minister, Ch Abdul Ghafoor snatched thousands of rupees on the pretext of jobs. We appeal to Shahbaz Sharif to intervene and provide us justice.”
Talking to the media he alleged that Chaudary Saleem who is a close relative of Ch Abdul Ghafoor had managed to arrange a meeting of job seekers with the minister about two years back. During the meeting Saleem ensured the participant that he would arrange jobs for them in the Prisons Department and Mayo Hospital.
Israr said that around 10 people paid more than Rs1.4 millions to him to give it to Mr. Saleem who would in turn give it to the Provincial Minister to get jobs.
However, when Saleem failed to arrange jobs for the affectees, they visited the house of Ch Ghafoor demand for the money. There they met with the minister’s brother Abdul Shakoor who made a telephone call to Ch Saleem and asked him to pay back the amount. At this Saleem asked affectees to visit his house in Pattoki but when they reached there Saleem was not available.
The protesters appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter for the recovery of their sum.
When this scribe contacted Provincial Minister Ch Ghafoor said he had no link with Ch Saleem and he should be dealt with iron hands. He said that Ghulam Dastagir had also called him over this issue and he told him same thing.