Self-proclaimed democrats seeking army’s help to overthrow my govt: Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan once again came down hard on opposition parties on Friday, saying those who call themselves democratic were seeking the military’s help to topple his government.

The premier’s remarks came during the ground-breaking ceremony of Lodhran to Multan highway upgrading and rehabilitation project in Islamabad.

Criticising the opposition leaders, the premier said they call themselves democratic but talk about overthrowing an elected government.

“They [the opposition] openly asked the army to overthrow my government,” the premier lamented.

Imran Khan said that change in the country can’t be brought without prolonged struggle.

“Ever since our government came [into power] the opposition has been screaming that it has failed,” the PM said. “People ask where is the change that was promised? I tell them that it is not something that comes overnight, nor is it a switch that one can turn on.”

Giving an example of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the premier said the great leader had to struggle a lot for the country we now live in.

“Even he was disappointed at times and went to England. But he came back and struggled hard for Pakistan,” the PM said.

Read Govt's economic turnaround, success of construction policy showing results: PM Imran

The premier added that his government was revitalising the same policies which made Pakistan the fourth biggest economy in Asia.

He added that farmers have been given proper incentives, the results of which will be visible in record crop production.

“When farmers are given incentives they invest in farming and not buy apartments and houses in London,” the premier said.

PM Imran added that no previous government had thought about Pakistan's potential; it only focused on how to win the next general elections.

“Pakistan has the potential of producing 50k MW of hydroelectricity,” he said, adding that 10 dams were being constructed for this purpose.

He added that the current government had also undertaken the challenge of climate change, so that the future generation would be safe from the adverse effects of global warming in the country.

Talking about tourism, the premier lamented that the sector remained neglected in the past despite having a lot of potential.

“If people would spend their holidays and Eid in London, how would they know what scenic beauty Pakistan possesses,” he said. “We are also working on improving the tourism industry as it alone can improve Pakistan’s reserves.”

He stressed that the worst time for Pakistan was over and that the time of growth had now arrived.

“The construction industry was booming and 30 other industries along with it because they are inter-connected,” he said.

He further stated that the government’s ‘Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme’ would also take off now, as the foreclosure law had been cleared by the courts and banks were now giving loans to individuals - previously reluctant to do so.

“More jobs would be provided as the construction industry booms,” he said. “In the coming days, I would give more good news to my people," the premier concluded.