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.