Pakistan

Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Secretariat has been on the move for last three months. It has moved from 7 Club Road to 8 Club Road and vice verse thirteen times costing the national exchequer a sum of around 1.5 million rupees. The reason given by the officials is the current threats of terrorism which is rather strange. If this was to be the case, President House, PM Secretariat and many other such like offices, too, should be on the move all the time.

The above mentioned to and fro movement of the CM Secretariat very clearly reflects poor decision making and indecisiveness of the concerned quarters. Besides the financial loss caused to the exchequer, I wonder as to how the secretariat has been functioning for these three months. Does the CM know about it?

Mr. Atta Moneka, leader of PML(Q) Unification Group, has stated that his party would continue to play the role of opposition till they are given ministries by PML(N)in Punjab. Earlier during the political battle between PPP and PML(N) for control over Punjab, it was PML(Q) Unification group which supported PML(N) and enabled the latter to stay on in power. Then, the stand of PML(Q) Unification group was that they were moving away from PML(Q) towards PML(N) for unification of Pakistan Muslim League. According to them, it was a matter of principles and they were not doing so for the sake of ministries. If that was so, then why they are now choosing to sit on the opposition benches.

Politics in Pakistan is nothing but pursuit of power. It has nothing to do with principles which are but mere rhetoric to befool the masses.

Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor has been restored as Minister Prisons by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. A couple of weeks ago, the former had been asked to stop functioning as a minister after the media reports of his misconduct and certain other realities beyond that at Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore. Although with a reprimand, the minister has been asked to perform his duties honestly. The question is if a similar ill conduct was displayed by a common man how would he have been treated. I wonder if such a person would have been pardoned. In fact, the minister deserved a bigger punishment as better and exemplary conduct is expected of persons of his class. It is doubtful if the minister ever considered resigning as a minister if not as a legislator. Following the trait of nepotism an exception has been made. Where is the so often trumpeted justice? Words needs to be followed by deeds.