LAHORE/SARGODHA: Launching his campaign for the general elections 2018 from Mianwali on Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan accused the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government of bankrupting the country during its five-year stint.

“There is no money left to run the country while debt is piling up and adding insult to injury,” he said. “Pakistan’s foreign loans have surged up from Rs13,000 billion to Rs27,000bn during 2013-2018.”

Addressing a public meeting at Tariq Hockey Stadium adorned with party flags and leaders’ portraits, Mr Khan said the PTI was working on its robust’ manifesto aimed at creating a sovereign new Pakistan that would bring in prosperity for the nation. “The PTI, after coming to power, will create Naya Pakistan where civil administration would be subservient to the masses and ensure that people get jobs and business opportunities and lead a prosperous life,” he said.

The PTI chairman castigated the PML-N leadership, particularly the Sharif brothers, for “failing the nation and amassing wealth for their families”. He said the Sharifs had spent billions but could not even complete the projects they had promised time and again. Referring to Shahbaz Sharif’s statements about ending loadshedding in months, Mr Khan asked where was electricity. “Has he taken electricity in shopping bags along with him?” he asked sarcastically and chided Shahbaz Sharif for his statement that the nation should spare him and ask the caretaker government about smooth supply of electricity. Asserting that the progress brought about by the PML-N was seen only in advertisements which cost the nation some Rs40bn, Mr Khan alleged that the Sharifs had squandered national resources and laundered over Rs300bn abroad. He said the 56 public sector companies established by former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif explained the stories of ruthless corruption.

PTI chief launches poll campaign from hometown Mianwali

Stating that the PML-N government had not fulfilled any of its promise made to the nation, he asked former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal about the achievements of his party’s experienced team in resolving the country’s longstanding problems.

Claiming that the PML-N government had wasted Rs36,000bn, Mr Khan said that this money would now be stolen from the pockets of the poor masses by raising taxes and prices of daily use items. “The poor masses will pay the price of the PML-N government’s inability to run the government effectively,” he said.

Referring to his party’s manifesto, which will be made public in a week or two, Mr Khan reiterated that PTI government would strengthen state institutions, including the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency as well as police force, on the lines of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police to ensure that the masses got justice and felt security for their lives and property. “I have been searched by the Supreme Court for one full year as the Sharifs’ police in Punjab registered 32 FIRs against me,” he said.

“The strengthening of state institutions and reformation of police force will help create peace and eventually fetch foreign investment to run the wheel of economy,” he said.

While winning public trust in state institutions, Mr Khan said, he would ensure that tax collection should double from current collection of Rs4,000bn. Besides raising revenue, he said, the PTI government would practice austerity and use massive infrastructure of Governor Houses and rest houses for public use.

Mr Khan also promised improving government-run educational institutes while immediately launching “education emergency”. He said the youth would be offered quality technical education so that they could get jobs right after completing education. He said that trees would be planted and grown all over the country as had been done in KP. He said PTI government would also work to combat the serious issue of dwindling water resources.

Referring to in-house fight about party tickets for elections, the PTI chairman said that there were 4,500 applicants for some 600 tickets. “Many will have to face disappointment,” he said and added that he had himself resisted award of party tickets to his relatives and friends because they lacked merit. “I personally apologise to all those who could not get tickets,” he said, adding that they should rest assured that all candidates had been elected on the basis of merit.

Mr Khan urged the youth to play its due role in the next general elections and effectively utilise the last chance of saving the country from the clutches of looters and plunderers.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2018