PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: FILE
Fresh from his party’s victory in the NA-4 by-election in Peshawar, an elated Imran Khan on Friday said after the ouster of “most corrupt leader [Nawaz Sharif] of the country, now is the turn of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to go”.
“When small thieves carry out robberies, one family or one household is affected, but when a country’s leader engages in corrupt practices, then it affects the entire nation," the PTI chairman said while addressing a public gathering in Upper Dir’s Darora area.
He promised the people of bringing in a system that treats all sections of society according to law. “Pakistan is a resource-rich country, but because of ruthless corruption of leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, we have been reduced to a debt-laden country.”
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In 2008, every Pakistani had a debt of Rs35,000 on their head, but now the debt has increased to Rs120,000 per person. "Where has all this money gone?"
“Each year some $10 billion are laundered from the country while every citizen owes Rs120,000 in debt,” Khan said, adding, “Yet the irony is that a layman is being burdened with more taxes while a royal minority is exempted.”
The looted money should be brought back into the country and spent on the people in Pakistan, he demanded, adding that after the general election a new system would be introduced in the country where equal opportunities for growth would be ensured.
“Does the PML-N have no alternative except to elect the daughter of a corrupt and ousted premier as its leader,” he questioned.
The PML-N leadership has been clamouring over the ouster of Nawaz Sharif, wondering why he was removed from power, he said. “Let me tell the reason. You have been booted out of power because you have looted the resources of the country. And now you are facing the music.”
Soon the turn of ticket seller (in an obvious reference to Asif Zardari) will come, Khan continued.
The PTI chairman also criticised the ‘VIP accountability’ given to members of the Sharif family. “They [the Sharif family] arrive in convoys of 40 to 50 SUVs with official protocol,” he claimed.
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Taking a jibe at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader, he said, “small thieves go to jail, but the big ones get a 40-car motorcade”.
Referring to the PPP chairperson and co-chairperson, he asked: “Someone please tell me, what qualifications do Zardari and Bilawal have?”
Reiterating his earlier allegations that Zardari used to sell cinema tickets in black, he remarked: “How can a person who used to sell tickets in black run a country?”
He claimed that during the last 40 months, his government has succeeded in bringing back students from private to government schools, saying, “Parents know we have provided best education environment to them and computer programme at the school level.”
While lashing out previous governments, the PTI chairman said: “Each political party has its share in destroying the economy, health and state institutions.”
“We have brought a new mechanism that ensures only honest people reach the top slot, bring positive changes to the system and paved the way for merit and quality.”
Khan also did not spare the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and said it was supporting a corrupt regime.
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