LAHORE, Sept 11: The PML-Q and the PPP have held the PML-N government responsible for not taking measures to save the people of south Punjab from flood and demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter.

PML-Q Punjab Secretary-General Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said inefficient rulers of Punjab had once again ‘drowned’ poor people of Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa and Rajanpur.

In a statement on Tuesday, he said devastation of the villages and urban areas showed that the Punjab government had not taken any preventive measures despite the meteorological department’s forewarning.

Chaudhry Zaheer said the government machinery in order to cover up its inefficiency, mismanagement and lethargic attitude was doing breaches in the DG Khan canal. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter so that it was established that these breaches had been made to save crops of some personalities.

He said the Punjab government could not evade its responsibilities as the flood devastation in south Punjab had fully exposed it. He said the army undoubtedly could play an important role in the evacuation and helping the flood-affected people but taking preventive measures and providing relief and rehabilitation was basically the responsibility of the civil administration.

PPP Punjab Finance Secretary Aurangzeb Burki demanded that the chief minister resign for failing to take effective anti-flood measures.