Shehbaz Sharif renews calls for parliamentary commission probe into electoral rigging

LAHORE - Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif repeated calls for the constitution of a commission to look into the electoral 'rigging' citing Prime Minister Imran Khan's promise in this regard.

'Imran Khan had himself called for a parliamentary commission to investigate the rigging allegations in the last general elections, however, three weeks have passed but no notification has been issued,' Shehbaz told media while addressing a press conference on Saturday.

Branding the incumbent premier, the product of rigging, the PML-N president vowed that the opposition alliance would work for the formation of a commission, hoping that no new 'u-turn' would be taken this time.

He also took aim at the government for jacking up gas prices, saying such rise was not recorded in the history.

'We will not allow the government to met out oppression,' asserted the lawmaker.

He highlighted that the previous government established several energy projects under the banner of CPEC, declaring the multi-billion dollars project a gift from the government of China to Pakistan.

'The electricity prices were slashed due to the projects launched by the previous PML-N government,' claimed the legislator.

The younger Sharif underscored the need for dams to store water, however, hastened to add that there was no need to collect funds from the public as the investors would automatically contribute.

"We spent Rs122 billion for the construction of Basha Dam. There should be no delay in power production through Basha Dam," said the politician.

The PML-N leader claimed that as many as 566 vehicles were put up for auction by the PML-N regime, however, such show off was not displayed at the time.

He challenged that the incumbent govt can conduct a financial audit of Lahore, Multan, Islamabad and Rawalpindi but should not hesitate from auditing the Peshawar Metro Bus project.

The PML-N president also slammed the new government's decision to terminate the laptop scheme.

"Laptops were not given to politicians or the rich but to students who achieved top scores and needed them," he highlighted.

The PML-N leader also flayed the PTI government for not being able to provide a rousing welcome to Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, saying China was Pakistan's all-weather friend and so the reception should have been improved.