PTI says Pervez Rashid failed to answer ‘four questions’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Central Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari has said that Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid failed to answer the four questions raised by the PTI.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, she said that Nawaz Sharif had sought clear majority in his speech before the election results.

Terming the minister as a political acrobat she said “we demanded appointment of judicial returning officers but there should have been accountability”.

Mazari added that Najam Sethi was appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board for causing 35 punctures. She also criticized Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who she said had not visited IDPs camp.

Opposition insists PTI-led KP govt failed to bring change

PESHAWAR: When the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) formed government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last year, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak boasted about his party’s preparedness to run the government.

“We aren’t among those governments that start thinking what to do after coming into power. We have come prepared,” he said in his first speech in the provincial assembly. As his young and inexperienced MPAs thumped desks, he continued: “As soon as we sit in our offices, we will start work. We will not waste time in thinking what we have to do because we exactly know what we will do.”

After a year, critics say, most of his government policies are in disarray. They are still figuring out what to do by flirting with different ideas. “In the first year, at least it dawned on them that policies don’t exist,” said Sikandar Sherpao, Qaumi Watan Party’s provincial president. He served as senior minister in the PTI-led government for over five months, but parted ways when unilateral action was taken against his two of party’s ministers on charges of corruption.

“The first year of PTI government is disappointing,” said Afrasiab Khattak, a leader of the Awami National Party. PTI created a wave, particularly in KP, on the slogan of change. It promised in its manifesto to eradicate corruption, introduce a uniformed education system, hold local government elections, bring revolutionary improvement in health, put in place a system of accountability, ensure rule of law and good governance and set up a library in the Chief Minister House.

What many doubted even then was Imran Khan’s claim to realise several of the objectives within three months. Many wondered how he would do it, but PTI chairman appeared cocksure to deliver on the promises. He wanted corruption to go away in three months and hold local government elections during the same period. He wanted to bring a change and introduce a system of accountability in three months. And he wanted the Chief Minister House turned into a library.

“The way he made promises, people thought it would establish a role model government. He dashed people’s hopes,” said Pir Sabir Shah, provincial president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and former chief minister. “The change people hoped for never arrived,” he added.

After a year, Afrasiab Khattak believes the PTI squandered ANP’s gains against terrorism. “They blamed terrorism on our policies and said they would control it as soon as they would assume power. Today, we see an upsurge in acts of terrorism,” he alleged.

He said the PTI government’s policy of appeasement enabled militants to run a state within a state. He alleged that the government was unwilling to take ownership of the “struggle against terrorism” which had turned police into a demoralised force. “The minorities are insecure. The well-heeled people pay bhatta and ‘Fatafication’ of settled districts including Bannu, Kohat and Charsadda is underway,” he said.

The PTI claims it brought down the level of corruption, but its critics don’t buy it. “The corruption couldn’t be eliminated in 90 days. It continues even today,” Sikandar Sherpao said. “Action speaks louder than words,” Afrasiab sneered.

According to Sikandar Sherpao, it was the first time in the province’s history that a sitting chief secretary issued a charge-sheet against the chief minister. Khalid Masood, provincial general secretary of PTI, said they discouraged practices that could allow opportunities for corruption. “We discouraged corruption at ministerial level and we are still microscopically watching ministers,” he said.

The PTI fired two of its ministers a month ago on bad performance, but many believe the action was partly taken on charges of corruption against the two ministers. “Not we, the party itself produced a charge-sheet against its ministers,” said Afrasiab while making the point that the PTI government is corrupt. “We offer tenders online and made appointments in education through NTS,” Khalid Masood claimed. “We ended political interference in police,” he added.

The Fata Research Centre, a non-governmental organisation, in its one year government review concluded that corruption under PTI government has declined. However, it did not explain how it had declined.

The PTI failed to hold local government elections even after one year, let alone three months. According to Khalid Masood, the PTI government is ready for it since April 2014 but the Election Commission of Pakistan is not yet prepared.

Opponents also criticise PTI government for its ‘bad governance and incompetency.’ It failed to utilise funds of the annual development plan of 2013-14. “Around 70 percent ADP could not be spent,” Afrasiab said. The FRC report substantiates his claim as it says the government spent only 31.22 percent of the ADP. “There is no leadership in the PTI,” Afrasiab said, adding that it appointed a battalion of ministers, advisors and special assistants. “We thought they would work with 10 ministers,” he added.

Sikandar Sherpao alleged that the PTI government interfered in bureaucracy and transferred administrative secretaries frequently. He sees no improvement in education and health. “People have felt no change at all,” he said.