Pickpockets have teamed up to safeguard vested interests: PM

Opposition knows that Pakistan now has a PM who will not get blackmailed and will hold them accountable, says Imran

LAHORE:

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the nation will have to struggle and work hard for realizing the dream of Naya Pakistan – the ruling party’s catchphrase for an ideal state – as, according to him, there is no shortcut to progress and prosperity.

“There is no magic wand to bring about change. Real life is about hard work. Naya Pakistan is an ideal for which we need constant struggle,” Imran Khan said on Wednesday while addressing a function organized by the Insaf Doctors Forum in Punjab’s provincial capital.

The prime minister – whose government is facing challenges on many fronts – also referred to Islamic history and said our prophet (PBUH) also faced lots of difficulties before and after the formation of the State of Madina. “However, later Muslims ruled the world for centuries,” he added.

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Imran Khan reiterated that thieves have ganged up against his government to stop the accountability process but he won’t get blackmailed by them and the accountability process would continue.

“They know that now they have to deal with a prime minister, who will not get blackmailed by their moves, come what may. They will be held accountable at all means. They will have to go to jails.

“This is a decisive moment for the country. The mafias are afraid of this wave of change. They thrive on a corrupt system. It would not be easy to introduce reforms.”

Imran Khan’s government is facing a protest movement launched by the major opposition parties to dislodge his administration, which, they claim, came into power through rigged polls in 2018. The opposition parties have so far staged three big rallies in Gujranwala, Karachi and Quetta.

“All these pickpockets gather on stage and claim that the country is on the verge of destruction. But I won’t get blackmailed. The accountability process would continue,” Imran said in a derogatory reference to the opposition leaders.

Talking with reference to the health infrastructure in the country, he said when his mother – Shaukat Khanum – was diagnosed with cancer he came to know about the lack of health facilities in the country.

“The powerful went abroad even for getting treatment for a cough, disregarding the facilities in the country which were used only by the poor. Therefore, the quality of the institutions – responsible for providing health facilities and education to the general public – went down.”

He said the system also devolved due to deterioration of a mechanism for check and balance. “However, the country could progress by bringing reforms in the health sector.” The PM said Pakistan is fighting a big war against coronavirus disease.

“The hospitals were under pressure in mud June due to coronavirus patients. There is once again a fear of another wave of the contagion. The cities with high levels of pollution like Peshawar and Lahore are more vulnerable to the second wave,” he added.

Paying homage to their profession, he said doctors remove pain and they have a special place in society.