Nawaz led government in Punjab pushing democracy towards dictatorship, alleges PPP

LAHORE - Condemning and protesting against police torture on teachers and students in Punjab, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Secretary General Jahangir Badr has warned the nation that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N)-led government is pushing democracy towards dictatorship.

“Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on behest of the capitalist and feudal groups has attacked the educational rights of the poor and working classes and has started privatisation of educational institutes against his commitments, which he had made with Benazir Bhutto during negotiations on political reconciliation,” the Daily Times quoted Badr, as saying.

Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, the PPP secretary disclosed that Shahbaz had made some commitments with PPP leader Benazir in his presence on the empowerment of lower classes before returning to Pakistan, but now had taken a U-turn on that issue.

Showing solidarity with the teachers and students tortured by the police on the eve of International Human Rights Day, he urged the lawyers and other people, who were struggling for human rights in the country, to come forward and support the cause of the teachers and students against the Punjab government’s policies.

Expressing regret on Shahbaz’s behaviour, Badr said that the chief minister had forgotten the way of democracy, and had started following dictatorial standards. (ANI)