LAHORE, Sept 8: A Pakis tant opposition leader yesterday attacked a govern ment plan to rescue financial cooperatives embroiled In a multi-million Dollars scandal, reports Reuter.

Farooq Leghari told a news conference he objected to plans to give a one billion Rupee (41 million Dollar) loan to rescue two financial cooperatives owned by members of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA).

Sharifs ally. Punjab Chief Minister Ghulam Haider Wyne. announced on Thursday he would help secure the loan so that two of the biggest cooperatives could repay angry depositors who have so far been promised only part of their savings.

Leghari, Deputy Parliamentary leader of Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, accused the government of using public funds to help its own allies.

The biggest borrowers from the Cooperatives should be forced to sell their property to repay their loans, he said.

Opposition Leader Benazir Bhutto last week accused Sharifs Industrial group Ittefaq and Interior Minister Shujaat Hussain of taking big loans from the cooperatives.

Ittefaq said it had repaid its loan, while Hussain said he was arranging the money to return the loan.