Imran urges PPP leaders’ social boycott in Sindh

Vows not to let Peoples Party win 2018 general elections in Sindh

HYDERABAD: In his drive against corruption in Sindh, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has urged the people of the province to punish corrupt politicians of Pakistan Peoples Party by opting for ostracism and ballot.

"If anyone is caught in corruption ... promise me [you will] boycott that person socially. You will not shake hands with them or go to their home or hotel or shop. This is the way civilised societies frighten the people who [are involved] in stealing public money," the PTI chief said while addressing a public gathering in Ghotki district on Sunday. This is the third public gathering held by the PTI in Sindh within the last seven weeks.

Khan had held a public gathering in Sehwan on October 22 and in Hyderabad on September 20.

He also asked the people to “make their vote conditional” and reject the politicians who kept their wealth and assets in foreign countries.

He gave examples of Japan and Singapore where some politicians committed suicide when they were implicated in cases of corruption. "This is because they know that people will not meet them. They will lose respect. No one will marry their family members."

Khan vowed that he will not let the PPP win the 2018 general elections in Sindh. He claimed that the people of Sindh had endured nine years of cruel governance and corruption which he dubbed 'Zardari raj'. "I will not let you suffer five more years of Zardari raj".

He said his party was mobilising people in all parts of the province and that he himself would visit more towns and villages before the general elections.



Khan jeered at Asif Ali Zardari, former president and co-chairman of PPP, for being afraid of his repeated visits to Sindh.

He attributed Zardari’s allegation that Khan and his family’s expenditure was met from the funds of Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital to that of a scared person.

"Asif Zardari, a man [Khan] who fears god and believes in the Day of Judgment, can never steal from the poor, let alone the cancer hospital."

The PTI leader reiterated his stance that he would not accept a possible revival of the National Reconciliation Ordinance giving specific reference of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the intended beneficiary.

"Shehbaz Sharif, you hope that you will get the NRO revived. You won't get it [done]. Now this nation will not tolerate a new NRO."

He warned of bringing the federal government to a grinding halt by organising a third sit-in protest in the federal capital if the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government tried to introduce a legislation to protect the corrupt.

Retired army brigadier helped PML-N win 2013 elections, claims Imran

"I remained silent," he said, referring to the enactment of the Election Act, 2017 in the National Assembly, which allowed disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to be re-elected as the PML-N president.

"If any attempt is made to change the accountability laws to protect Sharif or Zardari or to weaken and control the judiciary, I promise you that the whole Pakistan will join me in the sit-in in Islamabad and we will not move until we get rid of the corrupt cabal," warned Khan.

On holding influential people accountable, he said Saudi Arabia had nabbed 11 princes in an unprecedented crackdown against corruption. He informed the people that China caught and punished 313 ministers for corruption in just three years. "But in Pakistan, only one minister [K-P provincial minister Ziaullah Afridi] was caught in the last nine years and even he didn't belong to the PML-N or the PPP."

Khan said, “If elected, I will increase the country's revenue collection to Rs8,000 billion from the existing Rs3,500 billion.”

He argued that the country had the potential to pay even higher taxes, but the people evaded their civic duty due to rampant corruption and squandering of public money.

"Trust me your money will be spent on you just like I did for Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital."

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jehangir Tareen, Haleem Adil Shaikh and other leaders also addressed the meeting.