PTI to abandon war on terror, if voted to power: Imran

Published May 4, 2013
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.—File Photo
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.—File Photo

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan pledged Saturday that if voted to power his party would abandon the war on terror as it was an American war being fought on Pakistan's soil.

“I will order the army to shoot down the US drone if it crosses the Pakistani border,” Imran said while addressing election rallies in Buner, Swabi and Charsasda and Nowshera districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He alleged that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Falzur Rehman, Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan, and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif were dragging the country into a war of others.

The PTI chief alleged that Maulana Fazlur Rahman had enjoyed perks and privileges during the tenures of Pervez Musharraf and Asif Ali Zardari and now he was again befooling the masses in the name of religion to seek their support. He remained silent on drone attacks in Waziristan, but is now critcising the same, added Khan.

The PTI chief alleged that some of the political and religious parties of the country were directly involved in the ongoing wave of militancy.

He said thousands of people were massacred during the Afghan war when they were misled by religious leaders during the US-Soviet Union war.

He said that according to US secret reports, Pakistani politicians had double standards as on one hand they supported the US aggression and on the other they spoke against the Americans in the public.

He further alleged that both Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Asfandyar Wali Khan had made huge assets abroad. Accountability of only 500 people after elections will put an end to the menace of corruption in the country forever, he said.

He added that the establishment of peace in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) was his top priority as their people had rendered matchless sacrifices for the country. The PTI was the only party, which could do so.

He said that no comprise would be made on peace and tolerance in the society.

After coming into power, he said that he would maintain zero tolerance against corruption, nepotism and injustice in the society and introduce reforms in police, local government and revenue systems for the socio- economic uplift of masses.

The PTI chief claimed, “We believe in uniform service of people, irrespective of clan, caste and creed, and that's why people from all walks of life are joining the PTI.”

He said that the PTI was a movement against corruption, injustices and favoritism and it would work for a uniform education and better health system in the country, where every individual would be master of his own destiny.

He said that the PTI would transfer power to the grassroots level and for the purpose, local body elections would be held within 90 days after formation of the government.

Imran Khan vowed that the PTI would leave no stone unturned to restore honour and respect of the Pakistanis across the globe. Pakistan would be made a progressive Muslim welfare state, where people would get all their basic amenities of life at their doorsteps and not to go abroad for jobs.

He said that education would be the top priority of PTI as it would increase its budgetary allocations manifold. A uniform and better education system would be introduced in the country. Only through education, we can move on the road to progress and development, he added.

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