End of PAT sit-in: Despite regrets, Imran thanks Qadri for support
PTI chief vows to continue his own dharna till PM resigns
ISLAMABAD:
As he regretted Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) decision to call off its sit-in in the capital, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan still thanked Dr Tahirul Qadri on Wednesday for joining hands with him to ‘wake up the nation’.
Addressing his supporters a day after PAT announced its decision, Imran vowed to continue his own sit-in until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigned from office. “I will continue this dharna until Nawaz quits office, even if I have to continue it till my last breath,” he said.
“This is a defining moment… If we don’t challenge the ruling elite… which has accumulated billions… your children will be slaves of their [the rulers’] families forever.”
The PTI chief added that the protests in the capital had changed the attitude of people across the nation.
Responding to his critics, Imran said the recent development had revealed that his sit-in wasn’t carried out as part of ‘any London plan’. Explaining difference between PTI and PAT’s sit-ins, he said the former carried out its movement to protest against rigging in last year’s general elections while the latter was demanding justice for the Model Town incident.
Imran censured the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government over some of its decisions, saying the Rs50 billion being spent on the Metro Bus Project should have been spent for people’s welfare instead, and that instead of going for coal power plants, priority should have been given to hydel generation. “Coal is a costly source compared to hydel… but it takes time to complete hydel plants and the PML-N government is in a hurry.”
“The rulers don’t care about money they are borrowing because they will simply flee the country once they are out of power,” he said.
The PTI leader also accused the government and opposition of joining hands to appoint a National Accountability Bureau chairman who could clear them of corruption. “We will make sure you declare your assets, Nawaz,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2014.
As he regretted Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) decision to call off its sit-in in the capital, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan still thanked Dr Tahirul Qadri on Wednesday for joining hands with him to ‘wake up the nation’.
Addressing his supporters a day after PAT announced its decision, Imran vowed to continue his own sit-in until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigned from office. “I will continue this dharna until Nawaz quits office, even if I have to continue it till my last breath,” he said.
“This is a defining moment… If we don’t challenge the ruling elite… which has accumulated billions… your children will be slaves of their [the rulers’] families forever.”
The PTI chief added that the protests in the capital had changed the attitude of people across the nation.
Responding to his critics, Imran said the recent development had revealed that his sit-in wasn’t carried out as part of ‘any London plan’. Explaining difference between PTI and PAT’s sit-ins, he said the former carried out its movement to protest against rigging in last year’s general elections while the latter was demanding justice for the Model Town incident.
Imran censured the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government over some of its decisions, saying the Rs50 billion being spent on the Metro Bus Project should have been spent for people’s welfare instead, and that instead of going for coal power plants, priority should have been given to hydel generation. “Coal is a costly source compared to hydel… but it takes time to complete hydel plants and the PML-N government is in a hurry.”
“The rulers don’t care about money they are borrowing because they will simply flee the country once they are out of power,” he said.
The PTI leader also accused the government and opposition of joining hands to appoint a National Accountability Bureau chairman who could clear them of corruption. “We will make sure you declare your assets, Nawaz,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2014.