RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday expressed the confidence that public pressure would force the dissident Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians back into the party fold.

“I will give them (dissident lawmakers) a benefit of doubt; PTI leaders are talking to them and they will return under public pressure,” PM Khan said while addressing the ground-breaking ceremony of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project.

“At the time of ‘Changa Manga’ politics, there was no social media. Now, times have changed and social media has brought things out in the open,” he said.

The prime minister said the PTI would stage a historic public meeting in Islamabad on March 27.

“People will gather on one point and that is to stand on the side of the righteous,” he added.

Calls on PTI workers to hold peaceful demonstrations; questions need to call Sindh police for Sindh House protection

“A market had been set up in Sindh House to buy the conscience of lawmakers,” he said, claiming that looted money as well as funds from the Sindh government were being used to purchase votes for the no-trust move.

“The Sindh government’s money is public money. It is illegal to spend that money to buy politicians’ conscience,” PM Khan said, adding that, “why had the Sindh police been called to the Sindh House for its protection; what was the fear?”

He said if some PTI members had grievances and wanted to leave, why did they require police protection?

Prime Minister Khan said the no-trust move was a blessing of God as it would enable people to see for themselves the political system in the country.

“Buying off people, looting the country and then sending the ill-gotten wealth abroad; is this a democratic system,” he said.

Giving example of the United Kingdom, PM Khan said: “We were following a democratic system based on the Westminster model where no one would dare to even think of floor-crossing for financial purposes.”

Talking about the PTI workers who stormed the Sindh House, Mr Khan said they had become emotional, however,

peaceful protest was everyone’s right.

The prime minister advised party workers to hold peaceful demonstrations and avoid confrontation with people from the opposition parties.

Earlier, while congratulating the residents of Rawalpindi, PM Khan said the Ring Road project would bring a good change in the region and ensure vast connectivity, save travel time and improve business activities.

He said Lahore Ring Road had already brought huge changes and stressed upon undertaking similar projects in other cities of Punjab.

He said unchecked expansion of mega cities had been creating problems, from availability of cultivable land, provision of safe drinking water to proper waste disposal system.

The prime minister said he had directed the chief secretaries and the commissioner of Islamabad to prepare master plans for big cities which would be submitted shortly.

“Due to unplanned expansion of cities, land had shrunk for cultivating crops and green areas,” he said, adding that ring roads around big cities would act as buffer zones against growth of settlements.

About the Leh Nullah project, Mr Khan announced that it would be launched in the next three weeks.

“The project will rejuvenate Rawalpindi by transforming it into a modern city,” he added.

He said the government had also planned industrial zones along Ring Road.

Accepting Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s proposal, the prime minister said Ring Road would be connected with Islamabad via Sangjani.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said the project was being executed by the PTI government and it would have all facilities.

Studies were being conducted for setting up ring roads in Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot, Mr Buzdar said, adding that work on these projects would start soon.

He said work was underway on 822 development schemes worth Rs195 billion, out of which 55pc were complete.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed lashed out at political opponents, calling them corrupt, looters and absconders.

He said he was optimistic that Imran Khan would come out successful during voting on the no-confidence motion.

He requested the prime minister to direct early completion of Leh Nullah Expressway project for the benefit of the population of the garrison city.

Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said the PTI government was completing ‘this project as a gift’ to the people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

“The Rawalpindi Ring Road project will soon become a major artery of the entire country,” he added.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2022