Pakistan

Eastern route for CPEC may foster enmity between provinces, warns Imran

PTI chairman says his real opponent in the upcoming bypolls is Nawaz Sharif, not Ayaz Sadiq

Web Desk September 30, 2015

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan holds a press conference in Lahore on September 30, 2015. PHOTO: NNI

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has warned that the eastern route for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) may foster enmity between provinces.

“We should build a shorter and better route of the CPEC instead of opting for the eastern route, which will create resentment in other provinces against the Punjab,” Khan said, while addressing his party workers in Lahore. “The eastern route will end up being a conspiracy against Punjab.”

Read: Showdown in PML-N bastion? PTI drops D-Chowk rally for Lahore on October 9

The PTI supremo said he would take out a massive rally in Lahore on October 9, claiming his party will defeat the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the upcoming by-polls.

“We will not let rigging to be carried out in the by-elections,” Imran said, adding that his party had evolved since the last general elections.

“We have trained our activists to keep a check on the presiding and the returning officers on polling day,” Imran claimed.

Further, the PTI chairman announced that he is running an election campaign in NA-122 and hoped to seize victory against the ruling PML-N in Lahore.

Imran went on to add that his real opponent was Nawaz Sharif, not Ayaz Sadiq.

On Tuesday, the PTI had changed its plan to hold a rally at D-Chowk and instead announced a rally in Lahore on October 9, just 48 hours ahead of by-elections in NA-122.

Read: Showdown in PML-N bastion? PTI drops D-Chowk rally for Lahore on October 9

“We have decided not to give up and hold a rally in Lahore on October 9, instead of Islamabad (October 4) as we know the government wanted to put us on a collision course and shift the responsibility on us,” Imran had said while addressing a press conference.

COMMENTS (13)

Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Imran can't explain why the Western Route is better. The Eastern route has most infrastructure in place and can be easily upgraded, versus the Western route which requires brand new infrastructure. Anyone who doesn't know this clearly has no understanding of the CPEC>

Tayyab | 9 years ago | Reply Please don't drag CPEC into this Mr. Khan. This is a national project.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

H Chaudhry | 9 years ago | Reply So Khan is telling me the Farmer that I have to wait to get relief because he has some election phobia and now Khan is telling me the small business owner in Punjab who set to gain from traffic/transportation from CPEC that I shouldnt! Than Khan questions why he has no stake in 148 Punjab NA seats. When PMLN will win 120+ NA seats from Punjab again next election, Khan will still be crying.

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply Does this snorter of banned substance even know what CPEC stands for? Until last year at almost this time around, this joker was swinging on a container telling a few hundred youth (ias) that Chinese President was not even scheduled to come to Pakistan to lay the foundation of CPEC and the government of Nawaz Sharif was lying. Lo and behold this narcissistic fool and a low life tout of Pasha now has to enlighten us with his wisdom and astuteness on economics-political affairs.

Army Guy | 9 years ago | Reply Inshallah Imran Khan will lose miserably in NA122 to Ayaz Khan. Liar Khan you don't have the stature to challenge Nawaz Sharif, first win against AS.

Xman | 9 years ago | Reply Khan sb. unfortunately doesn't have the mental capacity to be a visionary leader. It's such a pity he had an awesome chance to unify the nation beyond petty politics, but he continues to create unnecessary noise on useless issues, just for kicks. Eastern or western at the first stage at least let the route complete. Risk profile of western route is high due to security reasons, but once the interconnectivity increases, trade starts to happen, people start realising the benefits, and momentum builds up, it would be easier to start difficult routes as well.

Sami | 9 years ago | Reply Who listen to smaller and poor provinces? Everybody is trying to fill his pockets.

Salman | 9 years ago | Reply Slum Politics !!! Imran, you could have asked your party workers to ensure their is no resentment with the eastern route because a western route is on cards. When ppl come and whisper to you that Eastern route fosters enmity, tell them, God willing, Imran Khan will ensure the western route is built because the country needs as many routes as possible. That is the kind of "hope" that the Youth of Pakistan has with "Imran Khan". Imran Khan should stand against odds and propose to the Government to build Kalabagh damn on war footings while consensus is built in KPK, which is the need to the hour. We should not sabotage our National projects !!!

Ashman | 9 years ago | Reply Actually your comments are fostering enmity Mr. Khan. You are a menace to this nation.

pk007 | 9 years ago | Reply All routes are being constructed. In fact the first one to complete early will be the Western. So far the only person fostering enmity between provinces is you Mr Khan.

Khaptaan | 9 years ago | Reply You and other clowns would never be successful in your evil efforts. all routes of CPEC would be completed in time IA

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply Totally agree..Nawaz Sharif should think he is PM of Pakistan not only Punjab...Even though I live in Lahore but always state the metro train should be made in Karachi instead of Lahore.....bcz Karachi is a much bigger population... Nawaz Sharif should tell why he is not doing any federal level development in KPK...I got it because people of KPK are being punished for voting Imran Khan

Jenna | 9 years ago | Reply Imran Khan is as always talking rational. At least he is capable of expressing what he wants with logical arguments that why t should be done, unlike other govt authorities of ours !

Replying to X