Pakistan

Will fight against corruption till last breath: Imran

PTI chief vows to not rest till nation’s wealth is brought back from abroad

Online January 30, 2017

PTI chief Imran Khan addresses public gathering in Sahiwal. Photo: Inp

SAHIWAL: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, terming the Panama Papers case “historic”, has said that it is first time the ruling family was being held “accountable” in Pakistan.

“No family has spoken as much lies as the Sharif family,” the PTI chief said while addressing a large rally in Sahiwal on Sunday.

Imran vowed to continue the fight against corruption till his “last breath”. “Pakistan is blessed with immense resources and can become a prosperous nation if it is properly managed, but still state institutions are suffering from enormous financial losses.”

In this regard he cited Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where he claimed that “the province has immense gas reserves and gas comes out when people dig wells”.

“However, still the government is looking forward to import expensive LNG from Qatar as it serves their business interests. The Qatari letter (in the Panama Papers case) is also from the business partners of Nawaz Sharif,” he claimed.

He said the culture of favouritism and nepotism had compelled talented educated youth to leave the country and seek employment in the United States and Europe.

“Our leaders take millions from the country; rather than invest in their own nation,” he said and added, “This increases the debt burden.”

He vowed to not rest till the wealth of the nation was brought back. The PTI chief also issued a warning to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the water issue, saying, “Every Pakistani is not like Nawaz Sharif and will take appropriate action if necessary.”

However, he said an overwhelming number of Indians did not want war, but rather peace with Pakistan. He vowed to continue his struggle for the rights of the farmers and provide them cheap raw materials, seeds and loans.

He also promised to fight for the rights of the minorities and said he would bring development projects in the next election.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2017.