Carrying senior leader’s shoes could earn you party election ticket in Pak Punjab!

LAHORE - The fact that ‘flattery’ is a major aspect of politics was once again highlighted when two lawmakers in Pakistan had a heated debate over how they reached the doors of the provincial assembly.

Senior Punjab minister Raja Riaz blamed Leader of Opposition Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Ahmad for stooping too low in order to earn a ticket from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

Reminding Zaheeruddin of his past affiliation with the PPP, Riaz told the house that he was an eye witness how Zaheeruddin got party’s ticket from former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

“Zaheer maneuvered to have a ticket from me by carrying her shoes,” Riaz said.

The statement infuriated Zaheeruddin, who shot back at Riaz, saying despite being elected on PPP ticket, he was “carrying the shoes” of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to get favours.

The two leaders were involved in the exchange when the house was discussing the issue of ‘Zakat’ distribution and the sufferings of the deserving people who were not getting a single penny from government funds due to non-functioning of concerned agencies, The Nation reported.

Riaz said that the government wants to replace the corrupt chairmen of Zakat committees, appointed by the previous government, but since it was a federal subject, the matter was still pending, awaiting some decision by the federal government. (ANI)