Moonis Elahi cut the Christmas cake with Christian Members of the PML

Nalaiq (Incapable) League has messed up Punjab: Moonis Elahi

Lahore, December 24, 2009: The “Nalaiq” (Incapable) League government does not have the vision and the capacity to wrest Punjab out of its current financial crisis. This was stated yesterday by Moonis Elahi, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League in a meeting with Christian party members at PML House, Lahore in connection with Christmas Celebrations. Present in the occasion were Senior President Punjab PML Muhammad Arshad Khan Lodhi, Secretary Information Punjab PML Akram Ch., Akram Masih Gill MNA, Rana Riaz, James Naz, Sardar Bishan Singh, Ch. Riasat Khokhar, Dr. Munawar Chand, Tabassum Naz and Sardar Taran Singh.

Talking on the occasion Moonis Elahi said that Punjab’s current financial mess was the doing of the two Shariffs, staff of half a dozen CM houses, 72 Task Forces, innumerable unelected advisors and scores of coordinators. Moonis Elahi said that Punjab’s uplift budget for this year had been drastically reduced but this was bearing no effect on the non development and lavish expenditures of the current Punjab rulers. He said that Punjab was confronting a loss of over 100 billion rupees in resources on account of an incompetent provincial government.

Moonis Elahi pointed out at the rising crimes and suicides as indicators of the misrule in Punjab. He said that in 2009 only in Lahore there were over 17000 incidents of robberies where the Lahorites were deprived of over 5 billion rupees. Moonis Elahi said that the Shariffs of Jaati Umra were flying around in government helicopters while the poor of Punjab couldn’t even eat two square meals a day.

He strongly criticized the auction of Punjab government’s assets for payment of interest against huge and unprecedented bank overdrafts. Moonis Elahi said that while no new government building was under construction in Punjab the Punjab government was strangely destroying private buildings in Lahore which was a sign of the current Punjab rulers’ destructive capabilities. The senior leader, Pakistan Muslim League said that instead of paying heed to the opposition’s protests the Punjab government continued on its destructive agenda in the last 2 years which has now brought the financial infrastructure to near collapse. It was ironic that after the voluntary departure of senior bureaucrats from the province now even the favorite junior bureaucrats in the Punjab administration were also critical of Punjab government’s incapacity to run the province’s affairs, remarked Moonis Elahi.

Punjab’s financial collapse is the result of N League’s plunder and surrender policy: Moonis Elahi

Lahore (December-19, 2009) Punjab Government’s recent decision of putting up valuable public assets for sale at throw away prices clearly reflects the failure of its extremely flawed administrative and financial policies. This was stated yesterday by senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Moonis Elahi while talking to various delegations of PML leaders and workers at PML House, Lahore. While talking to party men, Moonis Elahi remarked that N-League had now turned into “Nelaam (auction) League” as it was auctioning out highly valuable public property to compensate for its government’s own un-forgivable financial blunders, faux pas and follies.

Moonis Elahi further pointed out that the provincial economy had virtually collapsed and that the province of Punjab which was an investors’ haven until two years back was now considered a no-go area by both foreign as well as domestic investors and financial institutions. He cited the recently expressed IMF concerns on the excessive over-drafts of Punjab government and the extreme financial crisis currently prevalent in Pakistan’s largest province as a clear testimonial of Punjab government’s incompetence and failure in the eyes of the outside world. He said that the IMF had urged the federal government to take a serious stock of Punjab’s current financial crisis.

Moonis Elahi declared that the people of Punjab now wanted to know that why was their province heading for financial bankruptcy especially when there had been hardly any public sector spending on development works in last two years. He said that it was the people’s right to know that how could a financially surplus province till 2007, now in 2009 was on the brink of an economic disaster. He said that in the current financial year after depleting all available funds and resources of the province in the first six months on its flawed and failed schemes and after leaving the provincial kitty empty the N-League government had now set its eyes on valuable public assets in order to continue on its financial rampage.

He said that while the financial health of Punjab was already alarmingly poor the N-League government had planned to render a further blow to the ailing economy by doling out expensive public assets in the name of fund-raising. This “Punjab for Sale” scheme like N League’s earlier tandoor and sasti-roti schemes will wipe out whatever little hope is left for Punjab’s financial recovery remarked Moonis Elahi. The plunder and surrender policy of Punjab government has resulted in an alarming escalation of crimes rate and suicide cases in Punjab and the people of Punjab were now in no mood to forgive N league for these atrocities, Moonis Elahi declared.

Ch. Pervez Elahi and Moonis Elahi Celebrated Eid in Gujrat

Eid Message from Moonis Elahi

Eid Mubarak from Moonis Elahi Blog Admin

Eid Mubarak to all.

N League-PPP coalition brought country to verge of collapse: Moonis Elahi

Narowal: The N League-PPP coalition has wrecked the country. Those conspiring with their foreign masters in a plot to compromise Pakistan’s sovereignty and sell off the country’s vital interests in exchange for dollars will soon meet their fate. This was stated by senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League, Moonis Elahi yesterday in Narowal while addressing a huge turn out of PML workers and supporters at Pakistan Muslim League Workers’ Convention. We will stand with the nation against enemy’s attempts at weakening Pakistan and together we shall frustrate all enemy conspiracies, Moonis Elahi declared.

Earlier, Moonis Elahi was accorded a very warm reception on his arrival at Narowal. Accompanying Moonis Elahi was PML Secretary General and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ch. Zaheer ud din.

Moonis Elahi was received at the city entrance by President of Pakistan Muslim League, district Narowal Ch. Kizer Virk, Col (r) Abbas Chaudhry MPA, former District Nazim Narowal, Col. Jawed Kalhun, General Secretary PML Narowal Tauqir Aslam, Mukhtar Hussain Shah, Hafiz Riawan and other prominent party leaders. His carcade was escorted to the convention venue by hundreds of party supporters and PML Youth Wing workers on motorbikes and other vehicles.

Moonis Elahi was given a rousing welcome when he arrived at the venue. The speakers at the convention were unanimous in their condemnation of Punjab government’s failure in solving the problems of the people. The speakers also criticized Punjab government’s criminal indifference to the issues of Narowal rice farmers and hinted at an estimated loss of 5 billion rupees worth of rice crop only in district Narowal this year. Patronage by government and local administration to proclaimed offenders was pointed out as the biggest reason for rising crimes in the district by the speakers.

In his speech, Moonis Elahi lauded the army for supporting the people in their rejection of Kerry-Lugar Bill and blamed the ruling coalition of N League and PPP as solely responsible for the existing deplorable condition of the country.

He accused N League for willfully misguiding the nation at election time by making the false promise of bringing prices of all food items back to the 1999 position. He remarked that the government of N League in Punjab had miserably failed to keep the prices at the 2007 level let alone their bogus election promise of reviving the 1999 prices.

Moonis Elahi strongly condemned the present ruling clique for its deliberate failure in controlling the prices of flour and sugar. He pointed out that the hypocritical top leadership of N League owned major sugar mills and alleged that in cohorts with the sugar mafia N League was fully responsible for fleecing the poor.

He quoted the statement made on television by the official spokesman of Mian Nawaz saying that the daily expense of N League’s leader was Rs. 3.5 million. Moonis Elahi said that in a country where poor were getting poorer this extravagance was unforgivable.

Moonis Elahi criticized the N League government for deliberately slowing down the completion of DHQ Hospital, Narowal because this project was initiated by the former government.

Commenting on the sad plight of district Narowal’s rice growers, Moonis Elahi reminded the gathering that during Ch. Pervaiz Elahi’s government the farmers of Punjab were prospering and there was no food crisis during his five years. He said the farmers were selling rice at Rs. 1000 per maund whereas a fertilizer bag was available for Rs.500 only in Pervaiz Elahi’s time, but now it was the other way round. He pledged his complete support to the farming community and assured that the issues of district Narowal will be raised by PML in the assembly and at other forums.

In his address Moonis Elahi expressed serious concern over the pathetic law and order situation prevalent in district Narowal and held the Punjab government fully responsible for this criminal mess. He condemned the N government, local police and administration for openly patronizing criminals and for appointing proclaimed offenders and law absconders as coordinators in district Narowal. He sympathized with the unfortunate victims of various crimes in the district in recent months and urged the people to rise against injustice. He also warned Narowal police to desist from framing PML workers in false cases.

Moonis Elahi praised Narowal party workers and supporters for their unflinching trust in the party leadership despite victimization and persecution at the hands of N League government. Moonis Elahi declared that the day was fast approaching when the people responsible for destroying the province’s economy and peace in the last two years will be brought to book.

Moonis Elahi mediated a patch-up between two parties of Gujrat

Lahore: Moonis Elahi, senior leader of PML mediated a patch-up between two parties of Gujrat to end their 14 years old rivalry out of which nine persons were killed in Mangowal in 1996.

Ch. Muhammad Anwer Sindhu, Talib Hussain etc and Nazar Muhammad, Muhammad Ashraf and others of both the parties swore on the Holy Quran to end their enmity and pledged to work for the public welfare and PML-Q.

Moonis Elahi condoles with Miraj Khalid Khitran at Sahiwal

GHQ attack is a conspiracy against the country: Moonis Elahi

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and party leaders Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi condemned the terrorist attack at the GHQ and said such acts were a conspiracy against the country and the government should deal with such anti-state elements sternly.

They also paid tribute to the soldiers who were martyred in the attack

Leaders and workers of Pakistan Muslim League cannot be bogged down by despotic tactics and false cases: Moonis Elahi

Lahore: Vindictive activities and false cases against our leaders and workers initiated at the behest of Punjab Chief Minister will not bog down our spirits. This was stated by Moonis Elahi, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League while talking to journalists in Sahiwal yesterday after visiting the ailing former federal advisor and MNA, Rana Tariq Jawed at Central Jail , Sahiwal. He said that the current Punjab government was scared of the rising popularity of Pakistan Muslim League and through negative tactics was making futile attempts to block the upward surge. He declared that the revengeful and below the belt tactics of Shahbaz Sharif and his cronies will not be pocketed. Earlier, on his arrival Moonis Elahi was greeted by highly enthusiastic party leaders and workers who had turned out in a great number for his reception at Qadirabad. The procession was led by hundreds of Muslim League Youth Wing members chanting slogans for Moonis Elahi. Accompanying Moonis Elahi were Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader, Ch. Zaheer ud Din, senior party leaders including Raja Basharat, Arshad Khan Lodhi, Ch. Naurez Shakur and Iqbal Langrial.

Moonis Elahi said that Rana Tariq Jawed was a seasoned politician and a popular figure and the ill treatment being meted out to him at Central Jail, Sahiwal was highly condemnable. He cautioned the government functionaries to desist from becoming a party to Shahbaz Sharif’s revengeful agenda and urged them to be fair. He said that the police and other government officials involved in acts of high handedness against PML leaders and workers will be taken to task very soon. Moonis Elahi praised the exemplary courage of PML leaders and workers in the face of Punjab government’s undemocratic, despotic, unconstitutional and illegal actions being taken against them. Moonis Elahi warned the Punjab government to refrain from its negative tactics and instead focus on the problems of the masses. He said that it was due to its negative politics that N League government in Punjab had totally lost its credibility and that was the reason why Nawaz Sharif was also trying to wriggle his way out of the election.

Shahbaz Government’s by-election postponement plea is a conspiracy against democracy: Moonis Elahi

N League’s Punjab by-election postponement plea moved in Lahore High Court amounts to denying the people their constitutional right to vote and reflects a defeatist mentality. This was stated by senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Moonis Elahi while talking to a delegation of PML workers belonging to NA 123. He said the plea that the law and order situation in Punjab was not conducive for the holding of by-election was in effect Shahbaz Government’s admission of failure to restore order in the province along with its failures on all other fronts. He said that this plea was moved considering the waning popularity graph of N League and it once again revealed the anti democratic designs of the N League leadership as they could not accept defeat in the face of growing criticism against their government’s poor performance record in Punjab since 2008.

Moonis Elahi said that postponing election in Lahore from where the Sharifs had won in the past was another proof of the fast decline in their popular support. He reiterated PML’s resolve to become party to the case in LHC and fight a legal battle to protect voters’ rights along side other democratic forces and not let the minority government of Shahbaz Sharif repeatedly sabotage democracy and election process in the province. He strongly criticized Shahbaz Government for moving the court for postponement of election in two National Assembly and as many Punjab Assembly constituencies and warned that the said plea could have far reaching adverse implications on country’s politics and render an irreparable blow to the image of Pakistan in the world. He said that the N League due to its anti democratic norms was responsible for the derailment of democracy in the past and by attempting to stall the election process in the four constituencies it was once again committing the same crime and it was evident that the N League leadership had learnt nothing from past mistakes.

Moonis Elahi was also extremely critical of the recent decision of Punjab Government of distribution of flour to appointed tandoors through a courier company. He said that hiring of a courier company for this purpose was beyond comprehension as there were government departments and staff available to perform the same task without any burden on the treasury.

Pakistan for all Pakistanis: Moonis Elahi

A special article on Pakistan’s 62nd Independence day by Moonis Elahi

In the last 62 years, much ingenuity has been spent to explain the concept of Pakistan as envisioned by the Quaid and Iqbal. But the question that haunts us even after 62 years of attaining freedom is that how close have we come to the actual translation of our founding fathers’ vision into reality? There are no two views that their vision was based on the genuine desire to provide the Muslims and other deprived communities of the Sub-Continent with a free homeland where they could live with honor and respect. Together, Iqbal and the Quaid had visualized a society where the cardinal principles of main stream Islam based on socio economic justice and equal rights for all irrespective of their religious, economic and ethnic backgrounds were to be guaranteed. They knew that the British-Hindu nexus was too powerful to be broken and the Muslims would always remain as third rate citizens in a Hindu dominated India and they would never get their rightful place in the society. The pathetic conditions in which the 150 million Muslims are forced to live in India today are a living testimonial to Iqbal and Quaid e Azam’s foresight. They had foreseen that under the Hindus the doors of higher education, better employment and economic excellence will never be open to the Muslims. Allama Iqbal's historic Allahbad address in 1930 when he first articulated the dream for Pakistan turned a new leaf in the freedom movement of Indian Muslims and gave them a fresh lease of life. This Iqbalian dream inspired the Muslims of India with a renewed hope for freedom and they soon rallied under the banner of All India Muslim League led by Quaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and won freedom from the British after countless sacrifices on 14th August, 1947.

But 62 years after the success of this historic struggle for freedom the most saddening truth is that the people of Pakistan are still loitering in the dark. Despite living in an independent country the light of freedom has still not illuminated the lives of many. The Quaid-e-Azam had a very clear and principled concept of Pakistan which he explained through his words and deeds on numerous occasions. On March 24, 1943 he openly declared in a party session that he would much rather not struggle for freedom if eradication of economic injustice of the poor and the deprived could not be ensured in the State of Pakistan. It is quite evident from our Quaid’s words that Pakistan was to be a land devoid of economic oppression and exploitation of the have not’s at the hands of the powerful. But 62 years later an overwhelming number of Pakistanis still face the same pre independence oppression and exploitation and they continue to live as third rate citizens in their own country. Today more than 60% of Pakistanis are living below poverty line. More than half of the Pakistanis have no access to clean drinkable water. Similarly health and education facilities are also available to a negligible portion of the society. Law is only for the rich and the influential. With these problems already playing havoc in the lives of Pakistanis suddenly new problems like the atta crisis, the power crisis, the water crisis and worst of all extremism have raised their ugly heads. The reasons for all these continuing as well as recent abominations are not far to seek. They are all rooted in our failure to ensure a just society based on the cardinal principles of mainstream Islam as envisaged by our great leaders. In his May 28, 1937 letter to the Quaid, Allama Iqbal asks him that what is the remedy of all the ills the Muslims of India confront? He then answers that the solution lies in the implementation of Islamic principles of economic equality, social justice and tolerance in our lives. Undoubtedly, the founding fathers of Pakistan saw Pakistan as a means to achieving socio- economic freedom for the have not’s and the hapless in the light of Islamic teachings and beliefs. I wonder as to how far we have been successful in translating this vision into reality.

Today, the spirits of both Iqbal and the Quaid must be greatly tormented to see that the people for whom they had envisioned a just and prosperous society were still stuck deep in the quagmire of socio economic deprivation, injustice and sinister exploitation by the powerful. They must be in agony to behold the tentacles of IMF squeezing the last drop of blood out of an already emaciated soul of their nation. Can anybody tell me whatever happened to Iqbal’s concept of the" self" derived from the Holy Quran and where has the Quaid’s vision of a strong and prosperous Pakistan based on principles of democracy,equality and fraternity disappeared?
I believe that on our 62nd Independence Day we should do a sincere soul searching and resolve afresh to make our country economically, socially and politically strong not by paying mere lip service to the importance of freedom but by actually taking concrete steps that may lead to the achievement of the vision and goals set by our founding fathers. To begin with as a nation we should endeavor to become self sufficient and pledge to stop borrowing pittances in loans and aids from foreign countries and financial institutions. As individuals we should resolve to lead lives free of ostentations and learn to tailor them according to our own means and resources. We should also resolve to eliminate poverty, injustice and inequality by becoming individually as well as collectively more charitable, understanding and forgiving. It is also high time that we evolve a common plan of action against tyrannical rules and exploitative politics and not allow selfish rulers to treat us as “flies to the gods who kill them for their sport”.

Here I would also want to condemn along with the entire nation over the recent tragic killings of innocent Pakistani Christians in Gojra. Sadly, this episode took place in the month of our independence and is an ugly blemish on our history. The religion of Islam declares the murder of one individual as the murder of entire mankind but only due to the callous and cruel attitude of the present rulers of Punjab a handful of fanatics were encouraged to set ablaze non Muslim Pakistanis alive in their houses in the name of Islam and ironically the actual culprits have still not been apprehended. On this Independence Day, I request all my fellow countrymen to bemoan this tragic incident and resolve to weed out all the elements that are bent upon violating the spirit of Islam which is the true force behind the creation of this Land of the Pure called Pakistan.

The need of the hour is to follow in word and in deed the teachings of Islam and the vision of the founding fathers for a Pakistan which is free of economic, religious and social exploitation. And the way to achieving these goals is to stand united against all enemies internal and external.

Moonis Elahi criticises loan borrowings from IMF

After 62 years of independence we have still not come close to the translation of our founding fathers’ vision into reality, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi, said. Talking to a delegation of Pakistani students studying in England, Moonis said that it was now the responsibility of Pakistan’s new generation to accept the challenges and transform Pakistan according to the dreams and aspirations of Allama Mohammad Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Moonis Elahi urged the youth to shun all political, ethnic and regional biases and come together to help Pakistan attain its due place in the comity of nations. He strongly criticised the present government’s loan borrowings from the IMF and its myopic and flawed power policy.

He stated that the founding fathers had envisioned Pakistan as a citadel of Islam and a means to achieve socio-economic justice for the Muslims and other deprived communities of the sub continent. Moonis Elahi, strongly condemned the recent tragic killings of innocent Pakistani Christians in Gojra.

He held Shahbaz government’s cruel and callous attitude responsible for this dastardly act committed by a handful of misguided people. He alleged that the actual culprits of the Gojra incident had still not been apprehended because of Punjab Government’s backing to them. He urged the youth to stand united against all internal and external enemies.

Pakistan Zindabad : Moonis Elahi

Power may be available but few people will be able to afford it in future: Moonis Elahi

The already alarming high power rates are bound to shoot up by another 30-40%.
Despite 18 hours of load shedding consumers are getting 20-30% inflated bills.

Gross mismanagement of present rulers, their ad hoc and myopic policies, acquisition of expired rental power units, acceptance of strict IMF terms, maddening increase in power tariff coupled with power outages up to 18 hours a day have put an unprecedented load on the common Pakistani.

This was stated by senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League, Moonis Elahi while talking to party workers in London yesterday. He said the way the present government was handling the existing power crisis was extremely flawed.

He stated that if the government did not revise its current power policies immediately there was every possibility that there might be electricity available in future but with very few people able to afford it. He said that the rumor was rife that the government was increasing power rates to a further 30% to 40% in the next few months.

Moonis Elahi said that at present the country was engulfed in darkness, almost 60% factories had closed down, farms were giving a desolate look and there was an acute shortage of water and electricity for domestic users. He alleged that despite 12 to 18 hours of power load shedding in the country the power companies were sending the consumers 20% to 30% inflated bills.

He blamed the present ruling clique for these ills. He pointed out at the alarming increase in unemployment, which had pushed millions into abject poverty in the last 18 months and blamed the present ruling alliance as solely responsible for this sorry state of affairs. He said the rulers were busy spending valuable public money on their personal comforts and luxuries while the daily trials and tribulations of the common man on the other hand were multiplying at an alarming rate.

He pointed out at the soaring rise in the occurrence of suicides and crimes and blamed the present government’s selfish and myopic policies as the main reason for these unfortunate trends. He declared that N league was equally responsible with coalition partner PPP in the present power crisis and in all other problems being faced by the country.

Moonis Elahi said that the current power crisis was threatening the economic foundations of Pakistan but the government instead of finding long term and sustainable solutions and remedial measures was going for ad hoc and myopic decisions and policies aiming at self aggrandizement and personal gains.

He stated that seeking IMF loans on stringent terms and acquiring used and out dated rental power units were not a solution to the problem. He blamed the ruling alliance for deliberately keeping the parliament in the dark on all steps with regard to solving the country’s energy crisis. He warned that the $ 2 billions overload of the rental power units will have a devastating effect on the national economy and it was the role of the parliament to step in and put a stop to this blatant loot and plunder.

He pointed out that only in Punjab over 30,000 industrial units had closed down due to power shortage and there was an alarming increase in public anger and protests but to no avail.

Moonis Elahi said that the government in an unplanned and short sighted manner was increasing the country’s reliance on fossil fuel for power generation whereas the long term solution to the problem was in implementing a pragmatic and aggressive hydel power policy. He strongly urged the need for construction of hydel power projects including Kalabagh dam and urged the present government to set aside its political exigencies and work with all parties to foment a national consensus for the construction of the much needed hydel power projects in the country.

Barbaric Police Action against students, teachers, workers a reminder of Martial Law: Moonis Elahi

The barbaric torture of students and Pakistan Railways workers in Lahore on Tuesday is a tragic reminder of the brutal and cruel martial law regimes of the past and this has spread a wave of further panic and unrest in the already harassed public.

This was stated by Moonis Elahi, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League while talking on phone from London with office bearers of Pakistan Muslim League Education Wing who apprised him of the details of Punjab Police brutalities perpetrated on students, teachers and Pakistan Railways contract employees in two separate incidents on Tuesday in Lahore.

Moonis Elahi said the way in which Punjab Police used kicks, fists, batons and tear gas against students, teachers and railways workers in Lahore proved that Shahbaz government had virtually turned the province into a Police State.

He said that the Punjab policemen who were otherwise being discouraged from apprehending criminals and felons because many of them belonged to the ruling elite had been shockingly given a free hand by the present rulers of Punjab to violently chase innocent students and workers and brutally thrash them.

Moonis Elahi said that the whole world witnessed the inhuman and beastly treatment of Punjab Police inflicted on Pakistani students, academicians and workers in the media and it made an extremely negative impression of the country with the outside world.

Moonis Elahi said that the fact that no government high up even uttered a word in sympathy of the injured and against the police high handedness proved beyond doubt that these actions were taken at the behest of the Punjab government.

Moonis Elahi claimed that during Ch. Pervaiz Elahi’s 5 year government in the province there was not a single such gory incident on record and Pakistan Muslim League government from 2002 to 2007 gave the youth and the workers of the Punjab maximum honor and respect.

He strongly condemned the use of state machinery by Shahbaz government against the deprived and oppressed sections of the society and said that the brutal police action clearly reflected the true mentality of the present Punjab rulers.

The World should take notice of Indian Nuclear designs and human rights violations in Kashmir: Moonis Elahi

Indian hegemonistic designs are the root cause of all conflicts in South Asia. This was stated by Moonis Elahi, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League in a meeting with party workers in London. He said that Indian obsession to become the regional overlord was not only the key factor behind 4 wars between Pakistan and India but also the most important reason for the start of nuclear race in South Asia.

Commenting on the induction of a nuclear submarine in the Indian navy he said that this induction will have far reaching destabilizing effects on the peace of the region. He felt that the induction of a nuclear submarine carrying nuclear warheads will not only pose a direct challenge to Pakistan but will also threaten the peace of the various small countries located along the Indian Ocean.

He urged the world powers to stop supporting India in its unbridled build up of a nuclear arsenal. He said that nuclearisation of the Indian Ocean was a direct threat to world peace.

Moonis Elahi appealed to the world powers to also take notice of the unprecedented human rights violations in held Kashmir. He strongly criticized the inhuman treatment meted out to the Kashimiri leader Mahbuba Mufti in the session of the puppet state assembly where she tried to draw the speaker’s attention towards the rape and murder of innocent Kashmiri girls at the hands of Indian troops.

He said that India could not be allowed to either unleash its nuclear designs in the Indian Ocean or defile or brutally mutilate the honor and integrity of the innocent Kashmiri people. He urged the Government of Pakistan not to let the Indian expansionist designs and the genocide of Kashmiris go unnoticed by the world powers.

Kalabagh dam key to country's bright future: Moonis Elahi

LAHORE, July 25: PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi has said Kalabagh dam guarantees of country’s bright future and the coming generations will not forgive us for any further delay in its construction.

According to a PML-Q press release issued on Saturday, Mr Elahi said the dam was a solution to the current energy crisis and not the temporary IPPs being acquired on rental basis.

He claimed that despite all odds the PML-Q was the only party that kept the Kalabagh dam on top of its manifesto, while the PML-N had quietly withdrawn the dam’s demand from its agenda soon after coming to power.

He expressed his surprise at a recent news item, according to which, “the PML-N will now push smaller provinces for the construction of the Kalabagh dam”, and called it a grotesque Uturn.
Mr Moonis Elahi said he was ready to volunteer his services for the cause and would work with all political parties, groups concerned and stakeholders to develop a consensus on the Kalabagh dam project.

He said that he had even invited Hamza Shahbaz Sharif to join hands with him for a campaign to convince smaller provinces in this regard.

Government’s un-constitutional steps have put the people and the system in disarray : Moonis Elahi

Local Governments are nurseries of future leadership.

Delay in Local Governments elections will result in increased poverty and extremism.
The Prime Minister’s role is not to point out problems but to implement solutions.

Moonis Elahi, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League has said that since February 08, various un-constitutional decisions of the Federal and Punjab governments have put the people and the system in a constant state of disarray and confusion. Local governments are the bedrock of a democratic system and the recent un-constitutional decision of an indefinite postponement of local governments elections amounts to depriving people of their fundamental democratic rights. Denying people the right to choose their local governments was a despotic move which would have highly adverse effects on the future of democracy in Pakistan. The government should withdraw this undemocratic decision in the best interest of democracy.

Moonis Elahi, said this while talking to a delegation of Muslim League leaders and workers in Lahore yesterday. He said that the Prime Minister by recently dubbing the present state of affairs in the country as a hodgepodge cannot condone himself from his basic responsibility of finding solutions to the problems.

Moonis Elahi further said that Shahbaz government was afraid to hold local governments elections in the province on account of its failure in fulfilling the promises made to the people of the province at election time. He was of the view that Shahbaz government in order to save its own skin and to avoid public embarrassment was putting the entire democratic system at stake. He pointed out at the expensive media campaign of Shahbaz government against Pakistan Muslim League Nazims and the subsequent failure of Shahbaz and his men from proving even one Nazim guilty of the so called irregularities. He said that after its unsuccessful character assassination attempts against the Nazims now the Shahbaz government in cohorts with its coalition partner in the centre had un- constitutionally decided to impose government administrators as replacements of elected Nazims. He expressed his grave concern on the constant violations by both PPP and “N” league of the country’s constitution, the charter of democracy and the promises made by Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto with the people of Pakistan.

He warned the government that the undemocratic and illegal decision of postponement of local governments elections would further intensify feelings of deprivation in the masses and encourage extremist tendencies. He said that the beauty of the local governments system was in its direct contact of Nazims and councilors with the people for resolution of their basic problems. He strongly criticized Shahbaz government’s decision of relying on unelected cronies and incompetent government servants instead of popularly elected Nazims and councilors who enjoyed the trust and confidence of the people.

He declared that Pakistan Muslim League will challenge this un-constitutional decision and demanded that the government instead of shirking its responsibility should immediately announce the election schedule for local governments as per the constitution and the demand of the people.

Moonis Elahi personally supervised PML Elections

A full house raised their hands to re-elect Ch Pervaiz Elahi as the President of Pakistan Muslim League, Punjab yesterday in Lahore. This was the third election of Pakistan Muslim League under the Chaudhrys. The election venue was the historic Pakistan Muslim League House, Lahore - a building which has witnessed all epoch making political movements in the nation’s history taking shape under its roof. The air conditioned marquee was jam-packed with the party’s Punjab General Council members who had come from all parts of the province. The party leaders, MPAs and senior politicians including former President of Pakistan Farooq Leghari and former federal minister Sardar Sher Afghan were also present.

The mood of the election proceedings was buoyant and spirited. It was a time of re election and re union. There were many PML colleagues who were meeting after Feb, 08 elections. With sweltering heat outside along with refreshments the participants were also treated to a medley of patriotic party videos being projected on a giant TV screen inside the covered venue. The sweet mix of Seraiki and Punjabi languages in the air was a clear proof of the kind of support the Chaudhrys enjoyed on ground which was evident from the gathering that included a large number of political workers and party supporters who had come from rural and semi urban areas of the province.

Moonis Elahi, was warmly welcoming the participants inside the covered area. In the last few years his role in party politics has also become very important and the way people were gathered around him was evident of the fact. By eleven o clock the venue was full and there were still people pouring in. Another distinct feature of this gathering was the participants’ uncensored and seemingly straight from the heart comments about Humayun Akhtar, Hamid Nasir Chattha and other members of the dissident group. The beauty of a political party is its workers and there were many young and old League workers present in the gathering which was surely a healthy sign.

Pakistan Muslim League’s women MPAs have now become a very active and vocal political group and their impressive presence at the session was a sign of their loyalty to the leadership. The formal meeting of the Punjab Council began with recitation from the Holy Quran by former provincial minister from South Punjab Iqbal Khan Khakwani. The party provincial election commissioner, Jehangir Jhoja then came to the dais and announced the election results. Amid roaring applause, Ch Pervaiz Elahi and Ch Zaheer ud din were declared as unopposed winners for the positions of provincial party president and general secretary respectively. The conduct of the whole meeting smacked of a political culture characteristic of a mature political organization. After the results announcement the general consent of the council members was sought and the members unanimously endorsed the decision. Following this endorsement, key party members were individually invited to read out resolutions pertaining to rising prices, deteriorating economy, drone attacks, building of new dams including Kalabagh dam, water shortage for agriculture, early return of IDPs and load shedding. All resolutions were unanimously adopted by the gathering.

It seemed quite evident from the gathering and their mood and tone that the Chaudhrys have decided to take on the dissidents and they want to prove that unlike the earlier government sponsored leagues this one has its roots in the masses. Though Chaudhrys are known for their humility but this time round one of their obvious motives seemed to send an all out signal to different players of Pakistani politics that the Chaudhrys are a political force to reckon with.

Pakistan Muslim League ratifies the unopposed election of Ch Pervaiz Elahi as Provincial President

Punjab General Council of Pakistan Muslim League ratifies the unopposed election of Ch Pervaiz Elahi as Provincial President and Ch Zaheer ud din as Provincial General Secretary

Results have proven that intrigues cannot weaken the party the dissidents have proved themselves unworthy of honor and position they got because of the party 5 years of sterling performance by the PML government and our sincere leaders and workers are our real asset: Ch. Pervaiz Elahi

Lahore (8 July, 2009) An overwhelming presence of PML General Council members at the party election proves that the sincere and loyal leaders and workers of the party have shunned politics of intrigue and conspiracy. The real pillars of Pakistan Muslim League are its elected representatives, ticket holders and our 5 successful years of an unprecedented service to the people. These views were expressed by Ch.Pervaiz Elahi during his address to a jam packed gathering of his party members after he was elected unopposed by the Punjab General Council members along with Ch. Zaheer ud din as the provincial General Secretary.

Ch Pervaiz Elahi said that a strong Muslim League was the guarantor of a strong Pakistan and a bright future of the coming generations. He said that Pakistan Muslim League had given us honor and recognition and now it was payback time. He strongly condemned the handful of intriguers who were trying to weaken the strong democratic culture of Pakistan Muslim League. He declared that today’s gathering was enough to silence the intriguers and Pakistan Muslim League was not the Convention League of the past but a vibrant and popular political party with countless dedicated workers throughout the country.

He said that the intriguers had been asking for party elections for the last year and a half and now when the party was holding the elections the intriguers had suddenly taken a u turn.He thanked his party workers and colleagues for upholding the party’s constitution and for reposing their confidence in his leadership. He praised different wings of the party for their effective role in the party reorganization.

He specially recognized the services of the minorities wing of Pakistan Muslim League and said that the minorities had given us support on count of our services for them. He condemned the drawing room politicians for their intrigues against the party and said that no one could dare hijack Pakistan Muslim League from its sincere and loyal workers.Ch Pervaiz Elahi reminded his party colleagues and workers of the various contributions and achievements of PML government in Punjab from 2002 to 2007.He said that his government had done more for the province in its 5 years than all the work done by the previous governments put together since independence.

He said that his government had the benefit of all the people of the province in mind and their development plans were not confined to a few cities. He claimed that to address poverty and deprivation in South Punjab his government had spent 117 billion rupees in the areas of health, education, agriculture, industry, roads and infrastructure development Among his government’s various other services in Punjab he mentioned the up gradation of Tonsa Barage, free books and education upto matric, provision of free medicines in hospital emergencies, tax exemption to farmers with small land holdings and on 5 marla homes.

He claimed that while his government had built 7 underpasses alone the present Punjab government could not even complete one bridge at Thokar Niaz Beg, Lahore. He said that the N League government also tried to do away with the 1122 emergency service as well as the traffic wardens system but failed because of the public approval of these initiatives. Commenting on the grave law and order situation in the province he expressed his serious concern over the 30% rise in crime rate as compared to his government’s highly low rate of crimes. He also criticized the anti farmer policies and decisions of the present Punjab government. Commenting on the issue of power generation Ch. Pervaiz Elahi reaffirmed his party’s unflinching support to the construction of all water dam projects approved between 2002 and 2007 including Kalabagh dam.

A strong Muslim League is the guarantor of strong Pakistan: Moonis Elahi

A consultative meeting of Pakistan Muslim League, Lahore was held on Monday at PML house with senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Moonis Elahi and President PML Lahore chapter Mian Munir in chair. The meeting was attended by a large number of party workers and supporters. The workers chanted slogans in favor of Ch. Shujaat Hussain and Ch. Pervaiz Elahi and reiterated the workers’ confidence in their leadership.

In his address, Moonis Elahi, thanked the party workers for their unflinching support to the party and expressed the leadership’s firm resolve to protect the country’s interests at all times.
He further said that a strong Pakistan Muslim League was the guarantor of a strong Pakistan and the party workers were its real strength. Among other who addressed the meeting included senior politicians Arshad Khan Lodhi, Mian Muhammad Munir and Begum Mehnaz Rafi. The Meeting was also attended by UC Nazims, Town Nazims and party ticket holders. Senior leaders including Mian Abdul Sattar, Khawaja Tahir Zia, Shahana Farooqi, Syed Faqir Hussain Bokhari, Tahir Siddique, Jehangir Arshad Wains, Kanwal Naseem, Amir Malik Advocate, Mirza Kashif, Farida Sulehari, Bilal Sheerazi also reaffirmed their commitment to protect the party from being hijacked by opportunists.

Party MPAs Majida Zaidi, Ayesha Javed, Amna Ulfat and Seemal Kamran were also present in the meeting and they strongly criticized the dissidents for their anti-democratic behavior. The participants unanimously appreciated the party leadership’s decision of holding timely party elections and praised Ch. Shujaat Hussain and Ch. Pervaiz Elahi for their services to the country and the party. Senior politician Begum Mehnaz Rafi said that the contributions of Chaudhry family for Pakistan were known to all. Among others who addressed the meeting were Arshad Awan, Sh. Umer Hayat, Saleem Aftab Advocate, Dr. Naeem Chohan, Ch. Jawed, Raja Fahim and Bilal Sheerazi.

Punjab Assembly: Opposition insists on penalising Ch. Abdul Ghafoor

LAHORE, June 30: Opposition in the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday boycotted the session after the treasury did not entertain its request for a ‘strict’ action against Prisons Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor for his conduct.
During Monday’s session, Ghafoor had thrown budget books at PML-Q’s Bushra Nawaz Gardezi for hoisting a placard inscribed with “CM Punjabi industrialist is traitor of Punjab.” Following the incident the opposition had walked out of the house.
Before the start of the session on Tuesday, Speaker Rana Iqbal, Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Senior Minister Raja Riaz, Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira and senior adviser to chief minister Zulifqar Khosa held talks with opposition leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, Moonis Elahi and Chaudhry Sher Ali over the issue.
The opposition members wanted removal of Mr Ghafoor from ministerial post, besides suspending him from the assembly membership for at least 15 days.
“Yes we agree to suspend Ghafoor but he will not be penalised alone. Bushra Gardezi will be handed down the same punishment,” a treasury member said.
“You can not compare Ghafoor’s conduct with Ms Gardezi’s. Same punishment can not be awarded for slapping and stabbing,” Moonis Elahi argued and insisted on awarding `exemplary’ punishment to the prisons minister who had been in news for his alleged manhandling of the Customs officials at the Lahore airport.
“Sparing Ghafoor this time too means the PML-N leadership is endorsing a conduct unbecoming to a minister,” the young Elahi said and vowed not to return to the assembly if the opposition’s ‘just’ demand was not met. “We will take to streets and launch a campaign against Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for ‘protecting’ his cabinet member for ‘assaulting a woman’,” he said.
The treasury also insisted on authorising the speaker for any action against Ghafoor or both Ghafoor and Bushra but the opposition did not agree. “We will protest and continue to boycott the assembly proceedings if the speaker suspended Ms Gardezi too,” Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said.
Raja Riaz ruled out ‘unilateral’ action against Chaudhry Ghafoor. “It is not fair to penalise Ghafoor alone in this case,” Riaz said and told this reporter that a treasury team was scheduled to have a meeting with the opposition on Wednesday before the start of the session. “I hope some consensus will be reached between us and the opposition will be back to the house,” the senior minister said.
The speaker is also considering a proposal to suspend the membership of a legislator for at least 15 days for bringing a placard to the house. Though the PML-Q has no objection over the proposal, but it wants the same for future.
During the Pervaiz Elahi tenure, PPP’s Azma Bokhari had brought a placard against the Ch. Pervaiz Elahi and the then ruling PML-Q’s Zeenat Khan had attempted to snatch the placard from her. “We had suspended the membership of Ms Khan for three days for the gesture,” a PML-Q leader said and advised the PML-N to follow suit.

Treasury fails to woo Opposition, Boycott of assembly continues

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

DEADLOCK between the treasury and the opposition persisted over the manhandling of the PML-Q woman members on Tuesday as the opposition insisted to continue boycott of the Punjab Assembly unless action was taken against Prisons Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor.

However, the treasury members urged the opposition to end the boycott of the assembly proceedings and both the sides would hold dialogue on the issue once again on Wednesday (today) before the beginning of assembly session. On Tuesday, Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammed Iqbal, Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood Ahmed and a group of treasury members, comprising Senior Minister Riaz Ahmed, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, held a meeting with the PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, Chaudhry Moonis Elahi and Sher Ali Khan to diffuse the tension.

Sources stated that members from the ruling parties urged the opposition to end the boycott of the assembly while the opposition members demanded the immediate suspension of Chaudhry Ghafoor’s membership, asking the treasury to play an impartial role in the matter. Talking to the media after the parliamentary meeting of PML-Q, opposition leaders in the Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Zaheeruddin and Moonis Elahi said the opposition would not attend the assembly session until the Speaker announced action against Chaudhry Ghafoor.

They said the N-League MPAs resorted to hooliganism in the Punjab Assembly and attacked women MPAs to divert the public attention from the faulty budget and the Kharif water fiasco. Chaudhry Zaheer said it was up to the Speaker whether he wanted to run the house according to rules or turn it into a wrestling arena.

Speaking on the occasion, Moonis Elahi said the assembly record bore testimony to the opposition’s principled stand on various issues. He said the opposition had put all its questions in the house on the basis of credible facts and figures in the current budget session. He condemned the non-parliamentary and unruly behaviour of the treasury members, which included hurling books and abuses at the women legislators belonging to the opposition.

He said “undemocratic and unruly” of N-league was responsible for the derailment of democracy in the past and that the N league MPAs had once again demonstrated their inability to learn from their past blunders. PML-Q MPAs, including Mohsin Leghari, Sher Ali and Mian Shafi, said the unruly behaviour of the N-league MPAs was meant to block the opposition from producing documentary evidence of Shahbaz government’s incapability in handling the recent Kharif water crisis and their un-parliamentary behaviour on Monday was a part of the plan.

The PML-Q parliamentary meeting was attended by PML-Q senior leader Hamid Nasir Chattha, Khurram Nawab, Col (Retd) Abbas Chaudhry, Malik Iqbal Langrial, Khalid Asghar Ghurral, Shafique Khan and Amir Sultan Cheema.On the other hand, the members of ruling parties stated that opposition must give up its demand for action against the prisons minister and held the view if any action was sought against the Minister, the opposition woman member involved in the incident, displaying banner against the chief minister, should also be treated in the same manner.

Sources stated that opposition did not endorse the act of its woman member of displaying the banner but still insisted that membership of prisons minister should be suspended as his offence was of comparatively a grave nature. Nevertheless, both sides failed to develop consensus on the issue and the matter was left unresolved for the next meeting on Wednesday.

Moonis Elahi Speech About Punjab Budget 2009-10

Sense of deprivation is on the rise in Punjab, Moonis Elahi

LAHORE, June 26: PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi says sense of deprivation is on the rise in the province because of “one-man show” in administrating Punjab.

In a statement on Friday, he said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had concentrated powers of inspector-general down to a low paid clerk and cabinet members were helpless in taking any decision regarding their departments. — Staff Reporter

A Fan of Moonis Elahi Wrote a Poem For Him

His ideas are great

His vision sublime

His three enemies are

Poverty, corruption and crime

Please note my prediction

He is our prime minister in coming time

MOONIS ELAHI, THE SOLIDER OF TRUTH

Moonis Elahi Truth ka Sipahi
(Moonis Elahi, the Solider of Truth)

Mr. Moonis, you seem to be a different political breed altogether. I have been observing your activities and speeches in the last 6 months and I think you have in you what makes a politician a statesman.

Though you are young and relatively a novice in politics but you seem to be maturing fast. Your exposure of Punjab Government’s lavish and whimsical expenses at the cost of the poor during your budget speech in the provincial assembly on Monday seemed to be an outcome of thorough investigation and research.

The good thing about your assembly speech was your will to work with your political opponents if it comes to the service and survival of the country.

I like you for this and hope that one day you will lead Pakistan.

Yours Biggest Fan,

Irfan Latif, Rawalpindi

Rescue 1122 being made controversial: Moonis Elahi

LAHORE – PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi has said that at the heart of the clash between doctors and workers of Rescue 1122 lie a sick mindset of the Punjab government which wants to minimize the role of the rescue service being the brainchild of former chief minister Ch. Pervaiz Elahi.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Moonis Elahi alleged that the clash between two services reflected the failure of Punjab government.

He was of the view that both the aggrieved parties were serving a noble cause and government could play its role to diffuse the tension rather than adding fuel to fire.
He claimed that Rescue 1122 workers and doctors were playing their role to save human lives very efficiently but government was not ready to even tolerate this project initiated by the former government.

He was of the view that the Punjab government’s behavior towards Rescue 1122 service had been discriminatory and Punjab government after making number of failed attempts to abolish this service had now started to make it a controversial. He claimed that had the Punjab government been fair and just then confrontation between the two services would not have taken place.

Punjab Budget only a report of the extravagant and whimsical expenses of the “Shahbaz Raj”, Moonis Elahi

Leader of Pakistan Muslim League, Moonis Elahi during his speech in the current budget session of the Punjab Assembly on Monday strongly criticized the lavish expenses incurred by the Punjab Chief Minster secretariat in the concluding financial year and pointed out the gross financial anomalies in the new budget.

He said Punjab government’s failure in controlling the lavish expenses of the CM secretariat was a glaring proof of this government’s incompetency in managing the budget of the entire province. He pointed out that the approved last year’s budget of the CM secretariat was around Rs. 120 million but instead Rs. 270 million was spent thus burdening the provincial exchequer with an additional Rs. 150 Million.

He remarked that the Punjab government had no qualms in even sacrificing the provincial education budget at the altar of their whimsical and extravagant spending of the public funds.

He said that by reducing the education department’s budget by an alarming Rs. 10 billion and using this money to foot the CM’s plane and chopper flying bills and similar other extra constitutional expenses tantamount to destroying the already fragile education sector of the province.

He said that Shahbaz government’s anti education policies had resulted in a steep decline of the provincial literacy and enrolment rates.

He remarked that the misuse of power and resources by the rulers was equivalent to murdering and depriving the innocent. He was highly critical of the use of Zakat and Bait ul mal funds for the fraudulent “Sasti Roti Politics” of the Shahbaz government.

He said that had subsidy on wheat been offered instead of spending crores on the promotion and publicity of the “Sasti Roti Scam”the entire population of the province could have enjoyed a cheaper chappati.

He remarked that at present the said scheme is only focused at select urban areas and even the tandoors located in the Sharif’s home constituency in Lahore were not selling the roti at less than Rs. 3.

He reminded the house of the way the Shahbaz government had played up the issue of cars purchased by the previous government and pointed out that in stark contrast to their announcement of observing austerity, the Shahbaz government was spending billions of public rupees on buying new cars for mushrooming task forces in the province which comprised their unelected and incompetent favorites.

These tack forces he further said were a huge drain on public resources and were a testimonial to the difference in the words and deeds of the Shahbaz government.

He pointed out that an amount of 35 million was allocated in the gifts and entertainment budget of the Punjab government last year but the Shahbaz government had spent over Rs. 100 million instead.

He reminded the house of the promises of eliminating poverty and observing austerity made by the Shahbaz government at their outset and pointed out at their dismal performance resulting in wide spread poverty and hunger in the province.

He said that this budget was an incomplete financial document and therefore not a budget but a report of the extravagant and whimsical expenses of the “Shahbaz Raj”.

Moonis Elahi blasts ‘Sasti Roti politics’

The Punjab government on Monday received serious flak from the opposition for allegedly neglecting the education sector, using Zakat and Baitul Maal funds for promoting ‘Sasti Roti politics’ and spending millions on entertainment rather than providing real relief to the poor.

Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, son of PML-Q Punjab president and former Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, in his post-budget speech in the Punjab Assembly, lambasted the provincial government for its “failure to control lavish expenses, particularly of the CM’s Secretariat as Rs 270 million was on it spent instead of last year’s approved Rs 120 million.”



He flayed burdening the provincial exchequer with an additional Rs 150 million in the ‘Shahbaz Raj.’ Equally supported by his party members, the junior Chaudhry also slated the alleged misuse of powers and resources by the Punjab government and termed the budget a visionless and incomplete document carrying nothing for the poor.



The PA proceedings started with a delay of a few minutes with Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan in the chair. PPP MPA Abdul Qadir Gillani, son of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, on a point of order, congratulated the Pakistan cricket team for its historic victory in the Twenty-20 Cricket World Cup and told the House that a special reception would be held for the team by the federal government.



Senior Punjab Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed, on a point of order, hailed the spirit shown by people on the 56th birth anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. He also praised PML-Q MPA Samina Khawar Hayat and her husband for donating blood on the occasion.



Later, Moonis Elahi was given the floor to start his speech for the budget. From the very outset of his speech, the junior Chaudhry was critical of the PML-N led Punjab government for its bad governance and inability to provide relief to the poor population of the province.



Moonis Elahi said it was really awful that the Punjab government had sacrificed the provincial education budget at the altar of its whimsical and extravagant spending of public funds. He said the reduction of Rs 10 billion in the educational budget and use of the money to “foot the CM’s plane and chopper flying bills were tantamount to destroy the already fragile education sector of the province.”



He said that anti-education policies of the Shahbaz government had resulted in a steep decline of provincial literacy and enrolment rates. Coming hard on the provincial government for “fooling the nation” in the name of ‘Sasti Roti,’ he said even in Gawalmandi, the home constituency of the Sharifs, a Tandoor working in Bismillah Hotel was selling Roti at Rs 3, a clear proof of the government’s inefficiency and failure.



He said had subsidy on wheat been offered instead of spending millions of rupees on the promotion and publicity of ‘Sasti Roti,’ the entire population of the province could have benefited.



He said the use of Zakat and Baitul Maal funds for fraudulent ‘Sasti Roti politics’ was another example of the misuse of power and resources and equivalent to murdering and depriving the innocent. Criticising the Punjab government for setting up many task forces, he said the PML-N government was spending billions of rupees in the province on these task forces, which “comprised incompetent and unelected favourites.



He said these task forces were a huge burden on public resources and were a proof of the difference between claims and deeds of the Shahbaz government. He said that Rs 35 million was allocated for ìthe gift and entertainment budgetî of the Punjab government last year but the government had spent Rs 100 million.



He said that the poor population of the province was making its both ends meet with great difficulty and asked that for whose entertainment Rs 100 million had been spent by the government.



Earlier, PPP legislator Azma Bokhari on a point of order also demanded explanation from Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan for the poor coordination of Punjab Health Department on the eve of Benazir Bhutto’s 56th birth anniversary.



However, Raja Riaz Ahmed and not Rana Sanaullah on the occasion said if the honourable member had any complaint, she must inform him. This could not satisfy Azma who insisted that Rana Sanaullah to explain the reason of this cooperation before the entire House. Nevertheless, Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood asked Azma to let the budget proceedings continue and let the senior minister settle the issue.



PPP legislator from Attock, Shahan Malik on a point of order informed the House that the forests in Kala Chita Range were on fire and proper attention must be paid by the Forest department. He said the stealing of wood had become a common routine there and whenever any notice was taken, the forests were deliberately set on fire which was really shocking. Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood on the occasion said the matter was really very important and asked the Minister concerned (Ahmed Ali Aulakh) to acquire report of it.



Asif Manzoor Mohal, a PML-N MPA from Bahawalnagar hailed the Punjab government for presenting a public-friendly budget. He suggested that an agricultural university should be established in Bahawalpur, which would yield very positive results for the agricultural sector for the entire belt of southern Punjab.



Makhdoom Irtiza, a PPP legislator from Rahimyar Khan in his budget speech stated that allocation of Rs 43 billion for police would not help improve the Thana culture. He said during the last tenure of PML-Q, a lot allocation was made for the police and it was well equipped but it could not change the traditional Thana culture.



He further said that allowance for MPAs should also be increased. Besides, a privilege motion moved by PML-Q MPA Samina Khawar Hayat was disposed of.

'Gross anomalies' in Punjab budget, says Moonis Elahi & Mohsin Leghari

LAHORE- During budget debate in Punjab Assembly on Monday, the Opposition censured the Treasury for not maintaining financial discipline in its expenditures and committing what it called ‘gross anomalies’ in the present budget.

The Treasury members, on the other hand, termed it an excellent document, containing panacea for problems of common man.

According to them, this was the best possible budget presented at a time when country’s economy had been hit hard by global recession and growing menace of terrorism. They praised it as a poor-friendly and tax-free budget that would not burden the common man in any way.
While majority of members who took part in Monday’s Assembly debate on the budget either criticised or acclaimed it merely for political point scoring, a few however, had studied the document in detail and made a fair comment on it.

It was good to see Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira taking notes of suggestions coming from assembly members about the new budgetary proposals. The Minister remained present in the House throughout the debate, recording concerns of legislators about the new budget.

Leader of PML-Q, Moonis Elahi during his speech strongly criticised the alleged lavish spending on CM’s Secretariat in the concluding financial year while pointing out certain financial anomalies in the new budget.

He pointed out that approved budget for the CM Secretariat last year was around Rs. 120 million, but the govt burdened the provincial exchequer by spending an additional amount of Rs. 150 million.

He described it govt’s failure in controlling the lavish expenses of the CM secretariat and a glaring proof of its incompetence in managing financial affairs of the province.

Moonis also criticised the govt for what he called a drastic cut in education budget. He alleged that Rs. 10 billion taken out of education budget, would be utilised to foot the bill of CM’s plane and chopper.

He was highly critical of the use of Zakat and Baitulmaal funds for what he called the ‘fraudulent sasti roti politics’of the Shahbaz government.

The PML-Q leader was of the view that had the Government offered subsidy on wheat instead of spending millions on the promotion and publicity of the sasti roti scheme, the entire population of the province could have enjoyed a cheaper roti.

He remarked that at present the said scheme was only focused at selected urban areas and even the tandoors located in the Sharif’s home constituency in Lahore were not selling the roti at less than Rs. 3.

He accused Shahbaz government of playing up with the issue of cars purchased by the previous govt and pointed out that in stark contrast to its announcement of observing austerity, the Shahbaz government was spending billions of rupees on buying new cars for mushrooming task forces in the province, comprising un-elected and incompetent favourites.

He told the House that an amount of Rs 35 million was allocated previous year under the head of gifts and entertainment, but Shahbaz government had spent over Rs 100 million instead. Moonis reminded the rulers of their promises of eliminating poverty and diverted attention of House towards what he termed wide spread poverty and hunger in the province. He called the budget an incomplete financial document and a report of the ‘extravagant and whimsical expenses of the Shahbaz Raj’.

This was maiden speech by young Moonis Elahi in the House on Punjab budget, but he seemed to have full grasp on the subject. At least he seemed to have full understanding of what he was talking about.

Another Opposition member, Mohsin Leghari was critical of the Government for its inability to implement different schemes announced in the previous budget. Counting failures of Punjab Government in this regard, Leghari mentioned the plans of establishing price control boards, low cost housing schemes for the poor, performance based incentives for teachers, plying of air-conditioned buses for school children in seven major cities and generation of 350MW of electricity, and said that neither of them was implemented in the concluding year.

He wondered that if no new tax has been levied in the current budget than as to how the Government has enhanced tax collection target for agri-tax from Rs 600 million (previous year) to Rs 1100 million and for property tax from Rs 5000 million (previous year) to Rs 1,000 million.

A PML-Q member Dr. Faiza Asghar gave some good suggestions regarding protection of destitute children. She said that child protection bureau, which she was heading at the moment, should be given the status of a full-fledged department with its own minister. She also called for setting up of child protection centres in all districts.

Senior Minister Raja Riaz assured her that Government would consider her suggestions and try to implement them.

Well done Moonis Elahi!

Well done Moonis!

I read in dawn some days ago about how you tool on Mr. Khosa in session of the Punjab Assembly. I am a non partisan Pakistani and I try not to dabble into politics for I think it is simply not my cup of tea. But, it gives me sleepless nights.

I have relived that Sharif brothers are only befooling the nation with their cheap rhetoric and they have failed to give any solution to the gigantic economic issues that the nation faces today. I tell you Moonis Bhai, it was like I had suddenly cracked the secret code of a very well guarded vault.

This realization fell on me like lightening that the Sharifs have tricked the innocent Pakistanis once again. So, I think that what you stood up for in the assembly session was very much in order. No one is allowed to break political parties into factions and then apply the divide and rule doctrine.

Have you heard of a Democratic party or a Republicans party forward or unification block. So, good that you took the turncoat Khosa to task. Does he not see mechanical flaws in “N” league?

Keep up the good work,

From Sacha Lahori

Moonis Elahi, Zulfiqar Khosa Clash in Punjab Assembly

Saturday, June 20, 2009, Lahore

Arguments between a junior and a seasoned legislator caused uproar in the Punjab Assembly, igniting a blame game between treasury and opposition benches on Friday.


Moonis Elahi of the PML-Q and Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa of the PML-N exchanged heated words during the PA session. Tension was diffused when Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan intervened and asked both sides to calm down and pay attention towards the budget session.The situation became tense during a point of order when Khosa said there was a ‘manufacturing defect’ in the formation of the PML-Q and it was the reason why it was facing departure of legislators.


Moonis Elahi on a point of order said that he remembered that Khosa had visited Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at a time when Nawaz Sharif was in London. He said during the meeting Khosa had agreed to change his loyalty. Moonis Elahi told the House that he could also provide details of what Khosa had discussed with his father(Pervaiz) regarding his sons.
This infuriated Khosa who had returned to the Punjab Assembly for the ninth time. Khosa in reply called the son of the former chief minister ‘Moonis Nutt’ which elicited a strong reaction from the opposition. The opposition termed Khosa’s remark a ‘personal attack’ on Moonis.Continuing his speech, Khosa said that Nawaz Sharif had showered the family of Chaudhrys with personal favours and that he (Khosa) could also disclose what Chaudhrys had discussed with him (Nawaz).


Moonis Elahi said he could also say a lot before the House but his elders had taught him the importance of respecting others which Khosa probably hadn’t taught to his sons. This once again infuriated the PML-N camp. Rana Mohammed Arshad of the PML-N stood up and criticized Moonis and his supporters for being a part of a dictatorial regime.


PML-Q women legislators, including Amna Ulfat, Samina Khawar Hayat kept criticizing the PML-N leadership and the deputy speaker had to intervene and ask the members to calm down. Moonis Elahi on a point of order earlier has also criticized Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah Khan for calling PML-Q a party of ‘turncoats’. Moonis, who remained very vocal in the House on Friday, stated that in past Rana Sana Ullah Khan was a part of the PPP and used to criticise the PML-N Quaid in the same House.

Moonis Elahi returns to Pakistan from Germany

Senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League, Moonis Elahi returned to Pakistan 14 after attending a seven day world politician’s conference on “political leadership” held in Gummersbach, Germany under the auspices of “The Friedrich Naumann Foundation für die Freiheit.

This year Moonis Elahi was the only Pakistani politician to have been invited to attend this prestigious conference. During the working sessions of the conference, Moonis Elahi exchanged views with delegates from other participating nations on issues of mutual interest.

This Conference was a unique gathering of young and outstanding politicians from 24 different nations of the world and it provided them within opportunity to share ideas on diverse issues and evolve strategies against common problems.

A letter to Moonis Elahi

(In Response to Moonis Elahi Participation in Political Confrence in Germnay)

Dear Moonis Elahi,

I am from Multan and have done M.A. in Political Science. I share this feeling with a lot of my other friends that Pakistan can only win its case in the currently hostile international arena if young politicians with a fresh approach to our problems start representing their country at the international level. We have tried and tested most of our so called senior politicians and we know that they are not capable to represent us.

We have recently witnessed that Asif Ali Zardari on his recent visit to the White House was a major disappointment. I was amazed to see a 19 year old Bilawal Bhutto sitting next to him in the meeting with Pres. Barak Obama.

Apart from being the son of Shaheed Mohtarma Benezir Bhutto what other qualification did Bilawal Bhutto have to be seated there? I fail to understand. On the other hand I was impressed to hear that you have been invited to a World Political Leaders Conference in Germany. Now that makes more sense and is more relevant.

Instead of becoming a show piece like Bilawal Bhutto I am glad that you have taken a different route. This is more important and useful for Pakistan rather than what Bilawal Bhutto is doing.

Moonis Elahi to attend the world politicans seminar in Germany

Moonis Elahi , leader of Pakistan Muslim League to attend a 6 day “The Friedrich Naumann Foundation für die Freiheit” Seminar on political leadership being held in Germany under the aegis of the International Academy for leadership.

This year Moonis Elahi is the only politician from Pakistan who has been invited to attend this high profile seminar. The participants from 24 countries around the globe comprising leading politicians will discuss amongst other issues the present state of politics, values and constraints of democratic leadership along with the importance of communication and moderation.

This seminar will provide an opportunity to Moonis Elahi for interaction with politicians of other countries and to inform and educate them about the current political situation in Pakistan and how the global community can help and assist Pakistan in its current war against the twin afflictions of poverty and terrorism.

Moonis Elahi Urges Youth to Excel in Sports

Lahore - Pakistan Muslim League leader and Member Punjab Assembly Moonis Elahi has said that special emphasis was laid on sports during their government’s term and a lot of stadiums and grounds were built.

Addressing the prize distribution ceremony of Sehrish Usman Cheema Memorial All Pakistan Kabaddi match organized by Saadat Nawaz Anjnala, he said sports play key role in the development of nation. He urged the country’s youth to excel in sports.

Chaudhry Iftikhar Pehalwan of Kot Qutab Din beat Chaudhry Nauman Sarfraz team in the match which was watched by hundreds of kabadi enthusiasts. The organizers also arranged a horse and camel dance show.