ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has alleged that the Punjab government’s decision to hand over electric buses bearing Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s photographs to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government is an act of “political bribery. ” The party alleged that the move amounts to the misuse of public resources for political purposes ahead of the AJK elections. The PPP has strongly criticised the Punjab government’s decision to hand over 10 electric buses bearing Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s photographs to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) administration, describing the move as “political bribery” ahead of the upcoming AJK elections. Party secretary general Nayyar Bukhari, in his statement on Friday, called on the Chief Election Commissioner of Punjab to take immediate notice of the transfer of the electric buses, arguing that the move raises serious concerns about the misuse of public resources during the election period. Bukhari alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was attempting to influence the upcoming AJK elections by using taxpayers’ money collected from the people of Punjab. He claimed that transferring public assets carrying the chief minister’s image amounted to an effort to win political support through state resources. He further stated that once elections have been announced, such actions by an executive government constitute a clear violation of election laws and democratic principles. Questioning the use of public funds for political branding, Bukhari asked whether the electric buses, purchased with taxpayers’ money, were bought from “Jati Umra’s account, ” referring to the Sharif family’s private residence. He argued that public assets should not be used for personal or political promotion. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
PPP calls handing over e-buses to AJK ‘political bribery’
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