ISLAMABAD - Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan Saturday criticised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) after the former withdrew its candidate against the latter in by-election of Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The PTI chairman in a statement said that once again the people are witnessing muk muka by PML-N and PPP. “Nawaz Sharif has withdrawn its candidate in the Mirpur by-election, which is being held today, in favour of Asif Zardari’s PPP candidate,” he said.
“This is supposedly being done in the name of the ‘Charter of Democracy’ but is in fact yet another muk muka by Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari, whose only ideology is to protect their billions stashed abroad,” Imran Khan said, adding that the status quo is petrified of the PTI and its increasing strength amongst the masses and so it always gangs up when threatened by this PTI’s power of the people. Imran Khan urged the voters to turn up in huge numbers today for the Mirpur election to defeat the status quo.
Staff Reporter from Mirpur adds: All is set for holding by-election to Mirpur city seat - LA-III of AJK Legislative Assembly today.
The election campaign by the candidates ended at midnight of March 27 and 28, 48 hours before the polling.
After the whirlwind withdrawal of PML-N AJK candidate Arshad Mehmood Ghazi in favour of PPP candidate - Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, a neck-and-neck contest among PPP’s Ch Ashraf, PTI’s Barrister Sultan Mehmood and independent candidate Ejaz Raza is expected.
A total of 10 candidates belonging to various political parties including Muslim Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu Kashmir People’s Party, PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) and two independent candidates are in the run for the slot.
Local administration has taken all measures to maintain complete peace and order during the polling. Rangers have been called in to assist the local civil administration to maintain peaceful environment during polling.
The AJK Election Commission has warned that if any of the candidate or their supporter was found involved in creating disturbance, the candidate concerned would be disqualified.
The seat fell vacant after the former AJK Prime Minister and sitting Member of the AJK Legislative Assembly Barrister Sultan Mehmood Ch resigned from the seat after he joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
NAWAZ CONSTRUCTING ROADS FOR MAKING COMMISSIONS: IMRAN
Riaz Mayar adds from Mardan: PTI chief Imran Khan strongly criticised Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif for wasting public money on road projects in which billions of rupees commissions have been made for corrupt people. He expressed these views while addressing a meeting after the inauguration of computerised land record system at the distinct courts of Mardan.
Provincial Minister for Revenue Ali Amin Gandapoor, Provincial Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Atif Khan and Bella Evidente, OIC Country Program Manager of UN-HABITAT also addressed the meeting.
“Construction of road and building is being considered a change in which billions of rupees commissions have been received,” he added. He said that if this is the criterion of change then Malik Riaz, owner of Bahria Town, should be made prime minister of the country because he constructed more buildings and roads. Imran Khan said that computerised system will save record of lands and no one would make any change in it. He said that owing to the computerised system of land the buying and selling of lands will become easy. He said, “Today we take this step from Mardan district and till 2017 we will computerize all the land record of the province.”
He said that Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party took several turns but they failed to computerize the land record because they made money and property through Patwaris.
He said that there will be mistakes in the computerised system but with the passage of time it will be corrected. He said that corruption and mafia do not want change. “Except chief minister all our team in the province is new and with the passage of time they will gain experience,” he added. He said, “We have changed the culture of police station of the province and started online FIR registration system and also established reconciliation committee at police stations to solve the public’s disputes.
He said that PTI has brought the system of reward and punishment in the province. “We are also bringing change in health sector and very soon masses of the province will feel this change,” he added.
He said that majority of the vice chancellors were appointed on political basis. He said that with the help of Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, a well-known scientist we will appoint vice chancellor in the universities of the province on merit.