LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Sunday blamed Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for inciting protests against the arrest of Ahad Cheema, former director of Lahore Development Authority. Talking to newsmen, Ahsan called the protest a rebellion against the state, and said that the centre was involved in creating unrest in the country. “They are not just favourites, they are spoiled brats,” Ahsan said, taking a jibe at Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz’s reference to PTI chairman Imran Khan as the favourite of the apex judiciary. Ahsan said that the Sharif wanted judges like Justice Qayyum and bureaucrats like Cheema. Ahsan said it was the second time in the history of Pakistan where bureaucrats had gone on a strike. “The first time it happened was in 1972 when the Punjab police observed a strike,” he said, adding, “The Punjab and federal governments are both part of this strike.” The PPP leader maintained that the Punjab civil servants and officers had gone on strike following the CM’s order. According to the National Accountability Bureau, Cheema by misuse of authority and with criminal intent, awarded a contract of the Ashiana-e-Iqbal project of approximately Rs14 billion to Lahore Casa Developers – a joint-venture which was ineligible for the contract. Cheema is currently in NAB custody on an 11-day remand. His arrest led to friction between NAB and the Punjab government which traded accusations after the arrest. A group of bureaucrats also resorted to protest after the arrest.
Published in Daily Times, February 26th 2018.
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