PM Imran vows unwavering fight against 'mafias'

Imran Khan addresses annual winter meeting of Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America

PESHAWAR: [fbvideo link="https://www.facebook.com/etribune/videos/1419782998181151/"][/fbvideo]

Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the overseas Pakistani doctors residing in North America to step up their efforts to effectively counter the Indian propaganda and highlight the plight of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“Overseas doctors should raise their voice against Indian brutalities in IOK and expose discriminatory policies against the Muslim minority in India,” he said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 42nd annual winter meeting of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA) and Khyber Medical College Alumni Association (KMCAA) in Peshawar on Saturday.

Terming APPNA the 'most powerful and influential overseas Pakistani group', the premier said, "You are the most educated and aware".

Speaking on domestic issues, PM Imran reiterated his resolve to eliminate the "status quo" resisting his government's reform agenda introduced in different sectors of the country.

"The corrupt mafia, which is the beneficiary of this corrupt system, is resisting the change," he remarked.



His statement against corruption comes a day after his government promulgated the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 in a move to limit the sweeping powers of the anti-corruption watchdog to act against any individual accused of financial corruption at will.

The development has triggered a debate with some analysts calling it “NRO-Plus”.

"The government will not budge from its reforms at any cost," said the prime minister.

PM Imran urged the nation not to fall prey to the negative propaganda being churned out by the “corrupt mafia” against his government's policies and pledged that the he would defeat them come what may.

The premier said in the past governments had just focused on completing their five-year terms and did not take tough decisions fearing public backlash.

"It is our responsibility to face this pressure," he said and urged the nation to support his government's endeavours in bringing about the change with new reforms and administrative structures.

Citing the prevalent 'rustic' administrative system and bureaucratic hurdles, he said bringing about a change would be a difficult task, but those nations had succeeded that took it head on, referring to successful reforms introduced in Malaysia and Turkey.