LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf alleges the ruling PML-N is attempting to cover up Rs200 billion corruption committed by the local governments between 2001-14 by avoiding presenting the audit reports in the Punjab Assembly.

“Financial irregularities worth Rs200 billion were committed in local governments during 2001-14 in Punjab but the chief minister is avoiding to put the audit reports (of the period) before the House,” opposition leader Mahmoodur Rashid said in a press conference here on Tuesday.

He announced bringing a privilege motion against those creating hurdles in the accountability and said he had also written to Shahbaz Sharif in this regard.

He claimed the auditor general had requested the Punjab governor and chief minister for tabling the audit reports before the House but to no avail.

He said it showed that 80 percent of the elements who did corruption during Musharraf regime had joined the PML-N and perhaps under their pressure the Shahbaz government was concealing the audit reports.

Recalling the 2008 claim by Shahbaz about recovering the looted local governments money from the corrupt, he lamented that the same chief minister was now reluctant even to bring the matter before the House.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play