PPP, PML-N accuse each other of corruption

Islamabad, Aug. 9 (ANI): The Pakistan People's Party has accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership in Punjab of 'widespread corruption', while the PML-N has rebuffed the allegation, charging the federal government of appointing 'criminals to high positions'.

PPP's Information Secretary Fouzia Wahab levelled charges against the Punjab government of colluding with the Transparency International's report, which had claimed that the corruption was declining in Punjab.

"Whenever a PPP government comes into power, the Transparency acquires some kind of an extra vision, prompting it to put the country on top of the list of corrupt countries. It is probably working in association with a political party with an agenda to malign the government, creating a bad impression of the PPP," The Dawn quoted her, as saying.

She said the PPP leadership had been 'persecuted' for 13 years.

"Once again they are trying to prove that there is good governance in Punjab, where five members of the provincial assembly have been found to be involved in misuse of authority and another involved in a case of theft.

"They wasted 9 billion rupees on the Food Stamp Programme, but where does this scheme exist? In contrast, the federal government has started the Benazir Income Support Programme and people in every nook and corner of the country are benefiting from it," she said.

PML-N's Central Joint Secretary Zahim Qadri said the PPP "must stop blaming others to hide its own corruption."

He claimed the PPP had appointed people of dubious character to important posts.

Qadri warned that statements like Wahab's would harm efforts to improve harmony in the country. (ANI)