Thai PM Says Statue Damage Cannot Compare to Soldiers’ Sacrifices

A subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised concerns over financial irregularities in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) after audit officials revealed that more than Rs19 billion was paid outside the beneficiaries’ respective provinces or districts. The meeting was chaired by subcommittee convener Moeen Aamir Pirzada. Members reviewed a series of audit objections related to BISP covering the financial years from 2010-11 to 2022-23. During the briefing, audit officials informed the committee that payments worth over Rs19 billion had been made in locations different from the beneficiaries’ registered districts or provinces. The audit team said the transactions required further scrutiny to determine whether they resulted from administrative weaknesses, verification gaps or possible misuse of the programme. Committee members expressed concern over the findings and stressed the need for stronger monitoring and accountability in the country’s largest social welfare programme. They said public funds intended for deserving families must be distributed through a transparent and well-monitored system. The subcommittee examined the audit observations in detail and sought explanations from the relevant BISP officials regarding the irregular payments. Officials were asked to clarify how such payments were processed and whether adequate checks were in place to prevent similar cases. The committee also discussed measures to improve the verification process, strengthen oversight and ensure that future payments are made only to eligible beneficiaries through proper channels. Members emphasized that any financial irregularities should be investigated thoroughly and those responsible should be held accountable.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) over its recent political gathering in Lahore. She also extended birthday wishes to former president and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari. In a statement, Bukhari said Zardari should be thankful that he had been spared the embarrassment of another poorly attended gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan. Her remarks came after the PPP announced a Lahore gathering to mark Zardari’s birthday. Bukhari questioned the decision to organise the event in Lahore. She said holding a gathering with a large number of empty chairs would be disrespectful to Zardari. She also criticised those who advised the PPP leadership to hold the event in Lahore. She said the party should review the advice it receives from its provincial leadership. Bukhari claimed that the Governor House Punjab had a large number of empty chairs during the gathering held the previous night. She claimed around 2,000 chairs had been arranged for the event. However, she alleged that only around 150 people were present. The minister used the reported attendance to question the PPP’s political standing in Punjab. She said the party’s poor position in the province was partly linked to the information being provided to its leadership. According to Bukhari, some party leaders are giving senior leadership inaccurate reports about the party’s popularity and political strength. She said such reporting could prevent the PPP leadership from understanding the actual situation on the ground. Bukhari also criticised the PPP’s Punjab leadership for what she described as misplaced priorities. She alleged that the provincial leadership was more focused on the Punjab government than on strengthening the PPP itself. The minister said the party should focus on expanding its political presence and improving its organisational structure in Punjab. She argued that greater attention to party affairs could have prevented the PPP from reaching its current political position in the province. Bukhari’s comments reflect the continuing political rivalry between the ruling Punjab setup and opposition parties in the province. The PPP has traditionally maintained a political presence in Punjab. However, its influence in the province has faced challenges from major political parties. The latest exchange also highlights the importance of public gatherings for political parties. Large rallies are often used to demonstrate public support and organisational strength. Bukhari’s criticism focused heavily on the reported attendance at the Lahore event. She suggested that the number of participants did not match the scale of the arrangements. The PPP has yet to publicly respond to all of Bukhari’s allegations.