Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The corruption-plagued boat of the PPP eventually capsized in the AJK polls despite forceful electioneering by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in AJK. The PPP tried its best under Bilawal but accusations of corruption hold the party back.

The party managed to win only two seats in the recent AJK legislative assembly polls. A cursory glance at the 5-year rule of PPP in AJK shows that AJK Prime Minister (PM) Chaudhry Abdul Majeed grabbed 300 kanals of state land, pocketed over Rs 2 billion through allegedly corrupt practices, transferred 50 kanals of land in the name of his sons in Muzaffarabad and constructed bungalows costing over Rs 30 million in Gojra.

Chaudhry Qasim, son of AJK PM was given free hand to plunder every department through corrupt practices. He is facing corruption charges of millions of rupees. Chaudhry Abdul Majid is alleged to have extorted Rs 100 million from Chaudhry Zeeshan during the recent polls of Kashmir council. The AJK PM owned property and bank balance amounting to Rs 500 millions 5 years back and he held 3 kanals of land in Mirpur. He now owns 350 kanals and his bank account has apparently surpassed Rs 30 billion. He faces charges of corruption of Rs 3 billion.

Millions of rupees were allegedly embezzled against profit zakat funds. This caused a stir in different law enforcement agencies in AJK but the matter was shelved with exercising powers rested with PM after a few days. Chaudhry Qasim, son of AJK PM Chaudhry Abdul Majid, extorted millions of rupees in the name of commission from contractors of Mangla Dam and other companies. It must be added, however, that he has not yet been charged.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is now facing the challenge of salvaging the prestige and honour of the PPP. Benazir Bhutto came into power on a wave of unpopularity against Zia-ul-Haq. When Bilawal Bhutto stepped in the arena of politics, the stalwarts of PPP were facing corruption charges. Many PPP leaders have fled to other countries to avoid facing corruption cases. This has made it especially difficult of Bilalwal Bhutto to accuse Nawaz Sharif of corruption, given the extent to which his party is afflicted with the problem. If Bilawal Bhutto Zardari can salvage the PPP, he will be an even greater leader than his mother.