Showing solidarity: Imran visits flood-hit areas of Sialkot

SIALKOT:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday inspected relief camps set up in remote areas of Gadaray and Gohadpur during a tour of flood-hit areas of Sialkot district. He was accompanied by PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Later, addressing a press conference at Kotli Behram, Imran said the sole purpose of his sit-in in Islamabad was to get rid of the remains of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who, he alleged, is busy in looting peoples’ money while ‘farmers are dying of hunger’.

He also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and said he should stop acting as if he is concerned. “Billions of rupees were spent on metro-bus projects but the government did not pay attention to the small dams. Many lives could have been saved if the government had built dykes,” he said. Earlier, Imran Khan was welcomed at Sialkot airport by the PTI’s Sialkot leadership and hundreds of the PTI workers. The local leaders included Deputy Secretary General Umer Dar, District President Chaudhry Shahnawaz Cheema, District General Secretary Khwaja Arif, District General Secretary Sanni Khan and Provincial Finance Secretary Umar Mair.

Imran addresses sit-in

Addressing his supporters, the PTI Chairman Imran Khan said he was struggling for the poor and downtrodden.  “We have to fight this war because your Kaptaan will not back down and will not leave the oppressors,” he said.

Referring to his visit to the flood affected areas in Sialkot, Imran says he would help the flood victims and those displaced due to Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He, however, said to take care of the flood victims was the government’s responsibility. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2014