PML-N leaders disappointing masses: PEW

Lahore: The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Monday said that leaders of the PML-N have started disappointing masses through their statements.

Masses have voted PML-N to power to lessen their difficulties and not to take note of their fictional statements which are adding to disappointment, it said.

Dejected and highly demoralised masses deserve to see difference between incumbent and former corrupt rulers, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

Some recent statements regarding load shedding and energy crisis indicate that the federal ministers are speaking language of the powerful lobbies that might have financed their election campaigns, he said.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that one of the federal ministers has targeted CNG sector levelling allegations of theft while conveniently ignoring influential sectors responsible for annual theft of around Rs 250 billion of electricity and natural gas.

Majority of CNG stations involved in theft of natural gas are owned by PML-N and PPP leaders. Some influential owners of CNG outlets will never pay gas bills amounting to millions of rupees but would enjoy uninterrupted gas supply even during the load shedding.

The PML-N government should make public the names and political affiliation of such CNG outlets and take strict action against them according to the provisions of law, he demanded.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that PML-N leaders should not issue hollow statements and put their pre-election words into action as reliance on speeches can trigger suspicions among masses about the aims and objectives of the new leadership.

PML-N will lose popularity if important ministries continued to follow the footsteps of former advisor to the PM on petroleum and natural resources who was a Canadian national, he warned.

According to data of a gas distribution company, PML-N and PPP politicians from Sheikhupura, Hafizabad, Lahore, Sargodha and Kharian and Peshawar are prominent among those involved in gas theft.

Moreover, two top PPP leaders from Punjab and KPK have not paid bills of their CNG filling stations and industrial units since years.

A former chairman of a textile body from Lahore was held in gas theft of Rs 72 crore while former chairman of the same association from Peshawar was held for stealing gas worth tens of millions through direct connection.

It remains a challenge for the incumbent government to public names of culprits based on data from gas utility and inform masses about the action taken against them.