Held to account: Imran blames PM for poor treatment of IDPs
The prime minister is solely responsible for mismanagement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday.
“Despite knowing that such a mass migration would take place, he did not take appropriate steps to deal with the displaced persons in a respectable way,” the party leader said while addressing PTI office bearers, ticket holders and parliamentarians at a meeting to discuss the PTI’s planned long march on August 14.
Party members raucously cried out ‘Prime Minister Imran Khan’ as the party chief declared that the long march is the ‘March of Independence for Pakistan’. “This is not Imran Khan’s war nor the PTI’s, it is a war for Naya Pakistan and it is the duty of every Pakistani to participate in this march to secure their homeland,” Khan said. “The sun of justice will rise on August 14 this year,” said PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry, adding that an estimated one million participants will march for change in Islamabad on the day.
The long march will lay the foundation for a new Pakistan with a changed electoral system, he promised. “If the election system is not changed, the old family-dominated political parties will not allow the common or middle class man to come to power through democratic elections,” the PTI leader said.
He added, “The Election Commission and Elections Tribunal are not powerful enough to protect us and so PTI will set up Naya Pakistan with the strength of the nation on the roads.”
“It is ridiculous to ask PTI to abandon the long march and to consider the plight of the IDPs,” Khan said, adding that he was the only politician to raise a voice for the displaced persons.
“The operation commenced without my knowledge or the K-P government’s knowledge and therefore the prime minister, updated on the issue, is solely responsible for the IDP’s treatment,” the party chief said, adding, “If he has some spare time from his business, he can think of the aftermath of the operation.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2014.
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IK< Do you have any other thing to do, except blaming PMLN Govt in all department, Why not explain about your province Govt performance.....
Hard to take criticism from a guy who has acted as chief protector of the Taliban - his codling violent terrorist is one of the reasons that outside observers couldn't monitor the elections and maybe why he was excluded from the planning process.
@Shuaib,
Bannu is in KP, but IDPs are from FATA. Punjab and Sindh banned IDPs. Do you want KP to do that? First, KP takes responsibility of Federal Govt policies, and then it is blamed?
Secondly, 2bn are not given to KP govt, but issued to IDPs (but still haven't reached them). And it's no favor. It's a duty of Fed Govt.
However, UN estimated that 20bn is needed handle this crisis. Has Federal Govt delivered this? Has Federal Govt helped KP Govt with funds? Has Fed Govt provided doctors, medicines, etc, assistance within Bannu? No.
It's a crisis created by Federal Govt and they need to take full responsibility. KP govt is already doing everything. No provincial govt is doing as much as KP. KP should be appreciated.
@Haroon Farooq,
Clearly you are intelligent enough to discriminate between normal travelling and 700,000 lac people - poor and suffering - changing province?
It is Federal Govt fault that they couldn't fix situation in FATA. KP is welcoming IDPs with open heart. Isn't that enough? KP needs FULL Federal Govt support and resources to tackle the situation.
Federal Govt is responsible for this crisis, not KP.
I am sure you will blame Nawaz Sharif when he does not take care of 10 lakh IDP's you bring to Islamabad.
@Taimoort: Hm, maybe you should learn that Bannu is in KP and that the Federal Government has given KPK over Rs. 2 billion. Let us not forget that and there are talks of adding FATA to KPK. Read some news. There will be very little revenue increase in KP after the addition so pleasee.
@Taimor,
Tomorrow if you go from Sindh or Punjab to KPK,then KPK govt is also not responsible for your security since you belong to Punjab/Sindh??
@Bablu,
For God sake, please learn Pakistan constitution and geography.
FATA is under Federal Govt. IDPs are constitutionally Federal Govt responsibility.
For God sake Khan sahib please start taking responsibilities....
@Omer Farooq,
IDPs are from FATA. FATA is under Federal Govt. Then who is to blame for IDPs crisis and suffering?
Obama?
@Salman,
Those guests are from a Fed Govt area because Fed Govt is incompetent and couldn't take care of their own house!
FATA is under Fed Govt.
IDPs is constitutionally Fed Govt responsibility. They have failed to provide for IDPs and mishandled the situation. KP govt is bearing the crisis created by Fed Govt.
In short, KP is sharing the crisis created created by Fed Govt. Can anyone still blame KP?
Please learn Pakistan's constitution and geography.
If 10 guests come to my home and I am unable to take care of them because I am "inexperienced" ..... should I blame my neighbour in other street ????