PTI’s accountability system would spare none: Imran

Alleges govt trying to divert public attention from Sharifs’ corruption

CHITRAL: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that the federal government is trying to deflect public attention from the corruption of Nawaz Sharif and his family “who are openly maligning the judiciary”.

“Is this democracy?” Khan asked the crowd during a gathering at the Chitral Polo Ground on Wednesday.

He expressed concern over the “critical” situation in health, education and environment sectors, stressing the need for a quick reform in the governance system.

Khan said his PTI also wanted sweeping changes in the democratic system and anti-corruption laws. He maintained if his party emerged victorious in the next general elections, it would enact laws that would spare no powerful person from the accountability process.

Accusing Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of doling out Rs94 billion to selected PML-N lawmakers, he said that if the PTI came to power, it would pass development funds to local government representatives, entitling them to spend all such funds.

The PTI chief said that allocating discretionary funds to members of parliament “opens up new windows of corruption”, reminding the audience that the practices was started during the regime of military dictator General Ziaul Haq.

“We will not set aside funds for any member of parliament,” he said. “Someone keeping personal interests ahead of the nation’s always wonders why he was disqualified. [It’s because] you looted the national wealth and misused your office,” he added.

Khan said the prime minister used public money on his foreign tours costing Rs2.9 million a day. “We will broaden the tax net and never allow our government to use loans for lavish lifestyle of rulers,” he pledged.

He alleged that the previous governments devastated the province’s environment. The governments led by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and the Awami National Party (ANP) cut timber from local forests worth Rs200 billion during their tenures, he added.

The PTI, he said, had made a reinvestment in an effort to restore the province’s environment and “billions of trees have been planted in the shortest possible timeframe”.

“We made appointments on merit and no one can say that anyone is appointed in return for bribes or personal favours,” he said.

Imran said that elected representatives of the local government were able to serve the people better. He said he would ensure that people voted directly to elect district Nazims and Naib Nazims.

Speaking earlier, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak said that his government had vastly improved the province’s health, education and police sectors. “All provinces are imitating us in this regard,” he said.

“We defeated Nawaz Sharif and soon it will be the turn of [Asif Ali] Zardari,” Khattak said.

He announced that district Chitral would be bifurcated and Upper Chitral would be created, with its headquarters in Bonni.