The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) has devised a strategy to sweep the forthcoming general elections by winning the laurels of the masses, instead of manipulating the results or rigging the polls.
It has launched a new programme, under which the party is pumping huge development funds into the constituency of each MNA. Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has started his election drive from southern Punjab.
On Monday, he addressed a public meeting in Khanewal and announced a package of mega projects for this district. Similarly, he had visited Multan, Rahimyar Khan and Bahawalpur.
Sources said that Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is spearheading the campaign, contributing the greater chunk of the development funds in the programme. There is an impression in the top leadership of the party that after the completion of this programme, the PML parliamentarians will not have to depend upon the external forces to win elections, no matter how fair and transparent they would be.
According to sources, Punjab Chief Minister is giving development funds worth Rs 30 million to each MPA. With two MPAs' constituencies making one NA constituency, the estimate and calculations are that in this way, Rs 60 million will be invested into one NA constituency. In addition to MPAs, the Punjab government is also giving Rs 20 million to each MNA from the Punjab.
Over and above the contributions made by the Punjab, the Federal government is also giving development funds worth Rs 20 million to each MNA, bringing the total amount of development funds to be disbursed and used in one NA constituency to Rs 100 million.
Most intriguing aspect of this programme is the involvement of some security agencies. Sources disclosed that these agencies are also busy these days getting funds sanctioned from the Federal government for some MNAs. Who are these MNAs-whether from treasury or opposition-is not known to anybody at this stage.