Opposition trying to blackmail govt: PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that opposition parties were trying their best to blackmail the incumbent government and disband the country's accountability watchdog.

The premier was speaking to a public gathering in Hafizabad, where he laid the foundation stone of a university and a hospital. 

"When their blackmailing did not have any effect, they starting attacking the judiciary and the armed forced," the prime minister added. He reiterated that unless opposition party leaders 'pay for their crimes' and return the looted wealth, they would not be let off the hook.

While addressing the inauguration ceremony he added that the government has taken the first step to a construct a 400-bed hospital and a university in Hafizabad, and it is the government's duty to see the project to its completion.

This, along with health insurance card provided by the Punjab government, will pave the way for more health facilities to be built in Hafizabad, the province and by-in-large the country, the premier said.

Special Assistant to the chief minister Punjab on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, in a tweet on Saturday, said the university will be constructed at a cost of Rs4.5 billion while the new 400-bed facility District Headquarters Hospital building will cost Rs2 billion..

"Social development for raising literacy level and reducing poverty level are the basic economic objectives of Pakistan," posted the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on its official twitter handle.

A day earlier, the prime minister inaugurated the upgraded Hasan Abdal Railway Station, located in Punjab's Attock district.

Tied to the Main Line-1 project, the upgrade is expected to modernise the country’s railway system and accelerate economic activity.

Main Line-1 project will be executed with the cooperation of China and after its completion, the distance between Karachi and Lahore will be covered in seven hours, the premier had said while addressing the ceremony.

The prime minister had added that the project will create massive job opportunities and will significantly contribute to economic development. He said railway is a facility used for travelling by the masses; but unfortunately, it was not developed by previous governments.