From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Thursday directed officials to take action against land-grabbers across the province as well as investigate all corruption did by past governments.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore along with Accountability Advisor to PM Barrister Shahzad Akbar, Usman Buzdar said that former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif allotted thousands of plots illegally in 1985. Plots meant for widows and deserving persons were allotted on political grounds. “We want rule of law and transparency in the system”, he added.
The Punjab Chief Minister said that legal action would be taken against this illegal act and directed the Anti-Corruption Department to investigate.Former CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif also made illegal allotments during his tenure. Details of all illegal allotments in programs such as LDA have been given to anti-corruption department and appropriate action has been ordered. “We will ensure that the anti-encroachment campaign is a success”, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Barrister Shahzad Akbar said that recoveries will be made from the perpetrators of this corruption. These corrupt practices have been kept hidden since 1990, he added.
The Punjab government has released a list of 1,352 illegally allotted plots. According to the list, 5 plots were illegally allotted in Gulberg, 31 in Faisal Town and 32 in Model Town.
Moreover, 37 plots in Allama Iqbal Town, 108 in Gujjarpura, 191 in Tajpura, 260 in Sabzazar and 646 plots in Johar Town were allotted illegally. All these plots were allotted by Nawaz Sharif between 1985 and 1990. Days earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Punjab government to `continue its crackdown’ on hoarders, profiteers and land mafia besides resolving the issues of price hike, joblessness and law and order in the province.
On his brief visit to the city on Wednesday, the prime minister held meetings with the chief minister and a delegation of lawyers belonging to Punjab, Islamabad, Multan and Lahore bar councils led by Advocate General Ahmad Awais at the chief minister’s secretariat.Later, briefing the media, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the chief minister briefed the premier on the Punjab government’s plan to control prices of daily-use items. The CM said the government ensured supply of 20-kilogramme flour bags at the fixed rate of Rs860 each by offering a Rs60 billion subsidy. It would also offer a Rs7bn subsidy in Ramazan bazaars during the holy month.
Dr Awan said the CM also vowed that the government would give Rs110 more subsidy on each 10kg flour bag and ensure sugar was available at Rs60 per kg. She said the Punjab government would set up 313 Ramazan bazaars in all 36 districts, which would later be converted into Sahulat bazaars.
