‘Quit war on terror, eradicate corruption, pay tax’
Imran Khan tells government it can draw Pakistan out of present turmoil if it drags itself out of America's war.
KARACHI:
The government can draw Pakistan out from the present turmoil if it drags itself out of America’s war, wipes out corruption and ensures everyone pays tax, said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, the sportsman-turned-politician said corruption has reached its peak and is vigorously dragging the country downhill.
About Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism, he said we have to quit if we want to stabilise the country. “As long as we’re fighting someone else’s war, we will face the nastiest conditions as people now believe that we are fighting a war against the kuffar (non-believers).
About tax collection, Khan claimed that 90 per cent of the parliamentarians do not pay tax. “We are driving the country deeper into the abyss of foreign loans and 65 per cent of the revenues generated through the tax are being spent on covering the expenses of these loans.”
“If Rs5 billion can be collected for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and the flood victims in a year, then why cannot people give tax to the government,” he questioned.
During the question-answer session, a journalist asked why he was called a “clean-shaved maulvi”. Khan smiled and said, “Maybe because I was against the Lal Masjid operation and the operation in the tribal areas.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2011.
The government can draw Pakistan out from the present turmoil if it drags itself out of America’s war, wipes out corruption and ensures everyone pays tax, said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, the sportsman-turned-politician said corruption has reached its peak and is vigorously dragging the country downhill.
About Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism, he said we have to quit if we want to stabilise the country. “As long as we’re fighting someone else’s war, we will face the nastiest conditions as people now believe that we are fighting a war against the kuffar (non-believers).
About tax collection, Khan claimed that 90 per cent of the parliamentarians do not pay tax. “We are driving the country deeper into the abyss of foreign loans and 65 per cent of the revenues generated through the tax are being spent on covering the expenses of these loans.”
“If Rs5 billion can be collected for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and the flood victims in a year, then why cannot people give tax to the government,” he questioned.
During the question-answer session, a journalist asked why he was called a “clean-shaved maulvi”. Khan smiled and said, “Maybe because I was against the Lal Masjid operation and the operation in the tribal areas.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2011.