LAHORE, Dec 18: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday issued a directive to release Rs30 million to each Punjab PPP parliamentarian.

The premier had on Sunday promised the MPs would be given Rs30 million for development works in their constituencies.

A PPP legislator told Dawn the MPAs who had expressed intentions of defecting to the PML-N or the PTI would not be a part of this.

However, the funds could be released to them if they tendered an apology to the leadership. Also, the funds would not be given to women MPAs on reserved seats.

The suspected defectees included Nishat Ahmed Daha, Rana Babar Husain and Jamil Shah from Khanewal district; Rai Shah Jehan from Nankana; Kamil Ali Gujjar and Rana Munawar Husain Sargodha; Javed Allauddin Okara; and Ahmed Husain Dehar and Malik Abbas Multan.