Appeal for change: Ruling elite is follower of Machiavelli, says Imran

Urges people to gather in large numbers on Nov 30

ISLAMABAD:

The ruling elite of Pakistan is follower of the 16th century political theorist Niccolo Machiavelli, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said on Saturday as he invited people to participate in the party’s November 30 rally to oust Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

“We are standing against this sham democracy and will not end our sit-in. On November 30, the go Nawaz, go movement will be at its zenith,” Imran said.

He said his detractors were confident that after the Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s retreat from Islamabad’s D-Chowk it would be difficult for PTI to continue its sit-in.

“I will sit all alone, if needed but will not end this sit-in,” Imran said adding “Mian (Nawaz Sharif) sahib a large number of people would be coming here on November 30.”

Focus on education

In his speech, Imran focused more on education and poverty. He said that over 60% of the country’s population was below the age of 25 years and proper education can help lift the country’s economy.

“Youth is our power and we will focus on them, instead of wasting money on projects like Metro Bus,” he added. Imran said that his party’s target was to end poverty. “We will free millions of Pakistanis from the clutches of poverty,” he said quoting the example of China.

In addition, he said that Naya Pakistan would give special attention to women, as society cannot move forward without the support of women.

While talking about the education system, Imran said that in 1815 the standard of education in Madrasahs was better than the two British colleges in Delhi. The British took away the endowments of the Madrasahs and left them dependent for funds.

“We should have introduced one syllabus after the independence, but division was created between the rich and the poor,” he lamented pointing towards parallel education systems in the public and private sectors and the one for the elite class only.

“There are three different education systems in the country which have no connection, but in Naya Pakistan we will address all these discrepancies,” he said.

Imran gave the examples of France and Germany and said their public schools were the best educational institutions, which offer free education, and those who could not pass the entry test go to private schools. But here in Pakistan the system was the other way around, he added.

“I had studied from the Atchison College, but perhaps was the only one who played Test cricket. The college had the best facilities but its players could not stand the poor who used to struggle hard,” Imran said. “Imagine the level of talent if all the students are given equal opportunities,” he said. “And this is something which led me to go for the NAML University.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2014.