ISLAMABAD
\nFormer Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday claimed that over Rs20 billion corruption has taken place in the free flour distribution campaign bering run by the PML-N led coalition government.
\nDuring a ceremony in Lahore, Abbasi said that the political leadership needs to provide a clear vision for the system to function correctly.
\nHe went on to allege that corruption amounting to over Rs20 billion had occurred in the distribution of flour, which was allocated from a budget of Rs84 billion. Abbasi also questioned the value received by the poor in exchange for the money spent.
\nThe former prime minister criticised the system for failing to provide facilities and for everyone sitting as spectators. He said that political enmities have turned into hatred in the country.
\nHe added that the joint leadership failure was the reason for the country\u2019s problems, with even those who are not capable of leading becoming leaders today.
\nAbbasi said the solution to the country\u2019s problems lies in having competent politicians. He emphasised that the country will not move forward without reforms in the judiciary and bureaucracy. He further stated that regardless of the Parliament\u2019s performance, its decisions must be followed.
\nMeanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has dismissed Abbasi\u2019s allegations, saying that millions of underprivileged individuals in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Islamabad received free flour during Ramazan with complete transparency and honesty.
\n\u201cThe distribution of flour was supervised by the prime minister himself, who visited various cities to monitor the process,\u201d she added.
\nAurangzeb praised the success of this historic scheme, which was made possible through the hard work of administrative officers and officials who worked tirelessly day and night.
\nThe Punjab interim government has also strongly reacted to the allegation, demanding that either Abbasi apologise or provide evidence.
\nCaretaker Punjab Information Minister Aamer Mehmood said that not even a single penny of corruption has taken place in the scheme, and those who make such allegations only hurt their own reputation.
\nHe said that the scheme was the most successful scheme in Punjab\u2019s history, benefitting 30 million deserving people. Both the federal and provincial governments contributed funds for the scheme, and politicising it is totally unjustified, he added.
\nHe said that either Abbasi should apologise or provide evidence, as there are no corruption allegations on Punjab government. The government is ready to be held accountable for every penny spent, he concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday claimed that over Rs20 billion corruption has taken place in the free flour distribution campaign bering run by the PML-N led coalition government. During a ceremony in Lahore, Abbasi said that the political leadership needs to provide a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-328489","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n