ISLAMABAD: Indirectly criticising the opposition, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that enforcing the rule of law was the biggest challenge of the government and the opposition was the biggest hurdle in the way.

“Those who have made billions of dollars’ palaces abroad are the biggest hurdle in the way of enforcing the rule of law because they believe that their looted wealth will go from their hands if there will be rule of law in the country,” the prime minister said in his address at the ground-breaking ceremony of a five-star hotel at Nathia Gali.

He said corrupt rulers of the past had invested looted money in safe havens like Dubai where the law of the land protected them.

The prime minister said overseas Pakistanis were the biggest asset and a source of income generation, but they had no trust in the present system and, therefore, they were not investing in the country.

Imran pays tribute to martyrs of 1965 war, country’s armed forces

“Over nine million overseas Pakistanis earn equal to the earning of 220 million Pakistanis in the country. If there is rule of law in the country, they (overseas) Pakistanis will have trust in the system,” he added.

PM Khan also stressed the need for tapping Pakistan’s potential of tourism and said when big hotels, like Hilton, are built, they attract “high tourism”.

“In fact I persuaded the owner of Hilton hotel to establish the hotel at Nathia Gali some four years ago and I will love to inaugurate it when it is completed,” he added.

Kashmiris’ rights: PM Khan said India would have to give Kashmiris their right to self-determination under the UN Security Council resolutions; sooner the better.

“On our part, we will continue to expose the real face of radicalised India,” Mr Khan said in his message on the occasion of Defence and Martyrs Day.

“Due to the present government’s proactive diplomacy, the international community is now convinced that the persecution of minorities across India and atrocities unleashed on innocent Kashmiris in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir must end forthwith,” he added.

“The saner international elements do recognise our role for peace”, he said, adding that: “Our desire for peace must not be misconstrued as weakness. Rather it must be reciprocated for the sake of economic well-being and’ prosperity in the entire region.”

Undeclared war

Mr Khan said that great nations came out stronger and harder in the face of challenges. The Pakistani nation stood strong and resolute when the enemy challenged its existence in 1965, he added.

The prime minister recalled that when India on Sept 6, 1965, started an undeclared war against Pakistan, the whole nation came out in support of its defenders; many even started marching towards the border with bare hands. Such a display of national unity galvanised the already spirited armed forces in their fearless fight against the enemy, which has no parallel in history, he remarked.

He said the gallant soldiers and officers, pilots and sailors proved to the world that they were ever ready to defend every inch of the homeland at all costs.

They fought bravely and did not care for their own lives and defended the frontiers by offering supreme sacrifice, he mentioned.

“This magnificent day, the 6th of September, comes each year to let us pay rich tribute in particular to our heroes, the Ghazis and Shuhada, and the gallant armed forces overall, who have always been nation’s hope and pride.”

He pointed out that unfortunately, in the past India constantly perpetrated terrorism against Pakistan, using Afghan soil to create unrest.

“On this day we not only condemn those involved in such heinous acts, but also pay special tribute to our valiant armed forces who have rendered invaluable sacrifices for our motherland,” he said, adding the world must hold India accountable for its rogue behaviour.

“We commend the proactive and timely response of our security forces; India today stands exposed before the world community for its bid to hamper peace in the region, especially with reference to Pakistan.”

“My message on this day to the valiant armed forces is that together we have come a long way in the struggle for making Pakistan’s defence strong and impregnable”, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2021