Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and central leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, has said that PPP would again establish its government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after the forthcoming election.

While talking to media outside the PPP Central Secretariat, he said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would address a huge public rally in Mirpur AJK today (Monday). His convoy would reach Mirpur while passing through Islamabad, Rawat, Gujar Khan and Dina, he added.

He said, “The ministers of PML-N are using vulgar language against PPP chairman during their election campaign in AJK which is regrettable.” It is against our party culture and tradition to use such kind of language against the leaders of ruling PML-N, he added.

Raja Pervez Asharf said that PML-N promised with nation during its election campaign that it would end the power outages within six months but despite passing the period of three years load shedding could not be ended. The shortfall was about 3000-mega watts in our tenure but it has exceeded up to 7000-mega watts, he added. He said load shedding is going on for 20 hours but the federal ministers are claiming that duration of load shedding is urban areas is six hours while eight hours in rural areas.

He further said that PPP government had increased the salaries of employees up to 130 percent and 100 percent in pensions and demanded that salaries of the employees should be increased up to 100 percent and pensions be increased with ratio of inflation in the upcoming budget. The price of unit of electricity during the PPP government was Rs 4 but now it is being sold at the Rs 15.

Ashraf said lashing out the existing government, he said that farmers are protesting in Lahore, their crops have not been purchased and even nobody is ready to purchase the crops of wheat, potato and maize and farmers are meeting their requirements while selling their tractors and the ministers are making toll claims of their success. The employees of Punjab government are being sacked and questioned NAB that whether recruitment is a crime or termination is crime, he added.

He said that items of daily use should be provided at affordable rates and the ruling PML-N government should fulfill its promises made with public.

The former PM said that the policy of PPP over Panama leaks is crystal clear and PPP chairman had already announced that mere opposition would not be done adding that we pray for the early recovery of PM Nawaz Sharif.

He said, “There is no slot of deputy prime minister in Pakistan, therefore, PM can perform his functions if he found anywhere.”

Raja Pervez Ashraf said that it is a keen desire of party workers that PPP chairman should proceed for Gujar Khan, Dina and Rawat while passing through Rawalpindi, but due to shortage of time, it is not possible and now he would proceed directly from Islamabad to Mirpur.

“Corruption worth billions of rupees was committed on Nandipur project and it is decided to remove the managing director and even ministers were arrested during the tenure of PPP”, he added. Raja Pervez Ashraf said that PPP chairman would be received warmly at GT Road.