I Hear Stories of Corruption in Punjab Every Day, and There Is Truth in Them: Chaudhry Salik Hussain
Corruption files have become so numerous that cupboards may now be full of them; these accounts are also being documented, says Federal Minister
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain has strongly criticised the country’s political and administrative system as well as the performance of the Punjab government, claiming that corruption-related files in the province have become so numerous that entire cupboards may now be filled with them.
Speaking to journalist Naeem Ashraf Butt, Chaudhry Salik Hussain said that the observations previously made by Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh about the system were 100 per cent true and based on facts.
He acknowledged that he did not possess direct documentary evidence but said he heard countless stories of corruption in Punjab every day, giving him an idea of how extensively corruption-related matters had grown.
The federal minister said that these accounts were also being taken note of.
Criticism of Punjab’s Budget Distribution
Criticising the distribution of the provincial budget, Chaudhry Salik Hussain said the entire Punjab budget was concentrated in Lahore, leaving the ruling leadership with the discretion to distribute funds according to its preferences.
He alleged that constituencies and districts where candidates backed by the ruling government had won elections received substantial development funds.
In contrast, districts where the ruling party had failed to secure victories were deprived of basic facilities and development projects.
Calls for New Provinces and Reduction in Government Expenses
Commenting on the creation of new provinces, Chaudhry Salik Hussain remarked sarcastically that nobody would want to move out of a large palace into a small 10-marla house.
He said those enjoying the benefits of power would never favour the creation of new administrative units or the division of provinces.
Keeping the country’s economic situation in view, he stressed the need to review extravagant government expenditures and the use of official aircraft.
He said government aircraft should never be used for personal purposes.
Even when aircraft were used for official visits, the government should inform the public and relevant institutions about the benefits such trips had delivered to the national exchequer and what tangible results had been achieved.
Ministers Must Be Given Authority to Deliver Results
The federal minister alleged that deliberate obstacles had been created within the existing system, with certain elements working on someone else’s agenda and obstructing the country’s development.
He urged the relevant institutions to immediately identify such elements and take strict action against them.
He said it was unfair to tie the hands and feet of ministers and then expect them to run and deliver outstanding results.
The actual solution, he stressed, was to empower ministers and subsequently hold them accountable for their performance.
Praises Former CM Pervez Elahi
Praising former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Salik Hussain said that, since he had come of age, he had considered Pervez Elahi the best chief minister Punjab had ever had.
He said Pervez Elahi had improved infrastructure throughout the province and addressed public issues without political discrimination or prejudice.
Chaudhry Salik Hussain also said that PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had played an extremely important and pivotal role in securing Pervez Elahi’s release and handling his legal matters.
