Pakistan is establishment’s sole ‘ladla’: Tareen

Aleem defends armed forces for safeguarding nation's borders

KAMOKE:

Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) patron-in-chief Jahangir Tareen on Sunday said that the only “ladla” (darling) of the establishment was none other than Pakistan itself. In a brief exchange with a journalist before addressing a rally in Kamoke, Tareen was asked whether his party was favoured more by the establishment than the PML-N.

Steering clear of the hot-button question, the sugar baron and once the trusted lieutenant of PTI chief Imran Khan, replied: “The only ‘ladla’ of establishment is Pakistan.”

Later, while addressing the rally, Tareen said that Pakistan's destiny would change only if everyone took care of the country.

Asserting the need for focused attention on the nation's welfare, Tareen emphasised that the transformation of Pakistan's destiny was contingent upon collective care. Promising a renaissance in healthcare and agriculture, he pledged: "We will establish government hospitals of unparalleled quality, making Pakistan an exemplary agriculture nation that attracts global admiration."

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— Express News (@ExpressNewsPK) November 26, 2023

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Addressing the pressing need for education equity, Tareen pledged: "Every child will receive equal, high-quality education. Our aim is to create a superior Pakistan, leaving behind the lessons of the past."

Aleem blasts Imran for biting hands that feed

Later, addressing the rally, President Aleem Khan turned his guns towards his former leader for biting the hands that fed him, referring to the establishment’s alleged backing of the former prime minister.

Defending the military against the PTI’s criticism despite enjoying its full-fledged support, Aleem lauded the role played by the armed forces in Pakistan's strength, highlighting the army's sacrifices in safeguarding the nation's borders.

"Pakistan's strength comes from its army.”

Read More: Imran a ‘different man’ in office: Tareen

He also lamented the failures of the PTI's governance, particularly highlighting the appointments of Usman Buzdar in Punjab and Mahmood Khan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

“We worked day and night for 10 years to create ‘Naya Pakistan’ but when he became the prime minister, Usman Buzdar was imposed on Punjab while ‘white Buzdar’ (Mahmood Khan) was given the reins of K-P."

Referring to both former chief ministers picked by Imran as "incompetent and corrupt", he accused Buzdar of initiating corruption in Punjab with the backing of Bani Gala, leading to disillusionment among the masses.

He pointed out the grim state of government hospitals during the PTI's rule, saying the overcrowding and grim conditions often plagued healthcare facilities.

“Under the PTI's tenure, four children would be crammed into a single bed in Lahore’s government hospitals, forcing mothers to sit outside with their children on their laps,” he claimed.

Read More: Aleem accuses Gen Faiz of orchestrating his imprisonment

 

The IPP president also decried the state of affairs in Sindh, pointing out the alarming reality that “both dogs and human children drink from the same river”. “The actions and misdeeds of those who were once considered honest have now been exposed to the public eye,” he added.

In outlining the IPP's proposed policies, he promised substantial changes, including doubling electricity prices for the affluent while providing up to 300 units of free electricity to the impoverished.

He also pledged free electricity for farmers' tube wells, discounted petrol for motorcyclists, and interest-free loans for the youth if the IPP assumed governance.