PPP seeks action against PM over uplift funds

By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Nayyar Bukhari on Wednesday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, drawing his attention to the release of development funds by Prime Minister Imran Khan to MPs and Senators as well as his meetings with lawmakers ahead of the elections for the Upper House,
In his letter, Bukhari maintained since the announcement to release funds by the prime minister ahead of Senate elections constitutes a breach of the ECP code of conduct, therefore action be taken against him.
In January, Khan, meeting the long-standing demand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPs for development funds for their constituencies, announced a grant of Rs500 million for each member of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies to carry out development schemes for their voters.
Responding to the development, opposition parties had criticised the premier for doing so with Senate elections weeks away, calling the move a “political bribe”.
On the other side of the board, Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Chairman Senator Faisal Javed Khan on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was the sole leader standing against corrupt practices and struggling to bring transparency in the country’s electoral process.