Says CM Punjab uses court’s relief for political mileage 

ISLAMABAD:  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Central Vice President Fawad Chaudhry wrote a letter to Supreme Court (SC) against Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz for trampling the court’s orders and election code of conduct by announcing a mega relief package ahead of by-polls in the province.In a letter to the apex court, Fawad said that fake Punjab Chief Minister Hamza announced the package few days before the by-polls in 20 constituencies in attempt to influence the by-elections.Fawad said that the SC formulated a formula to save Punjab from constitutional complications and crisis and to ensure clean, transparent and free by-elections in Punjab.He said that Interim Chief Minister Hamza Sharif was only allowed to use regulatory powers till July 22 and Hamza himself assured the court that he did not intend to rig the elections.Fawad said that the PTI had serious reservations over Hamza Shahbaz Sharif’s individual as well as official role as CM Punjab, who was not trampling the apex court’s orders but also violating election code of conduct.He said that Hamza announced the package at a press conference for the people of the province, which was broadcast live on national media including state TV.He said that details of this package have also been published by national newspapers.Fawad said that this was a fake package as it could not be materialized due to the fast dwindling economic situation of the country; however, Hamza’s sole purpose was to use the relief obtained from the court for its own political advantage and to influence the voters.He said that Maryam Nawaz, a convicted by SC and accountability court, was campaigning for by-elections across the province, who announced the package in an election meeting a day before Hamza announced it formally. Fawad stated that police crackdown against PTI workers continued on direct orders of Hamza Shahbaz, as the workers were being implicated in fake criminal cases.He said that the Chief Minister had nothing to with the public relief but his sole purpose to retain the seat of Chief Ministership on July 22, which was directly dependent on the July 17 by-elections.Fawad lamented that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has yet toke action against these election code of conduct.He said that all the relevant details would be provided to the apex court, seeking the opinion of the esteemed court in this regard.