Imran Khan keeps workers on standby to march on Raiwind

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday urged his party workers to be ready to march on Raiwind – a state where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family resides near Lahore – but added that a final decision in this regard will be taken after a meeting of opposition parties scheduled for Monday.

Speaking to workers and supporters of his party at Chairing Cross on Mall Road, Khan once again demanded of Prime Minister Nawaz to resign in the wake of Panama Papers revelations.

Announcing another ‘anti-corruption’ party rally in Faisalabad for next Sunday, he said he was only demanding what was his constitutional right in a democratic system. He said transparent accountability strengthens democracy.

The PTI chairman said foreign investment was not possible without elimination of corruption in the country.

Taking a jibe at PML-N stalwart Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Khan said the former walks like ‘Maula Jatt’ – a movie character famous for being a thug – in the National Assembly. “Khawaja Asif says he can alone take care of all,” he added.

The PTI chairman said that names of prime minister’s children are mentioned in Panama Papers and thus accountability of Prime Minister Nawaz should take place before anybody else.

He said people need to stand against oppression that was prevalent in the society, adding that corruption amounting to Rs12 billion takes place in a day in the country today. “Societies with oppression can never progress and nations do not progress by building just roads and bridges,” he said.

PTI chief Khan urged all opposition parties to take a united stand against corruption saying: “Mian sahib has lost moral authority to rule… he should resign.”

He said criminals have been allowed to rule in Pakistan, adding that Rs11 billion of people’s hard-earned money was used in building the Raiwind state while Rs450 million were spent on renovation of Jati Umrah property.

Imran Khan went on to say that 2,700 policemen were deployed on security duties of the prime minister and his family, which he said possesses apartments worth Rs7,000 million in London.

“I fear Mian sahib might inaugurate motorway again in panic,” said the PTI chairman and referred to the prime minister's recent visit to Mansehra where according to Imran Khan he inaugurated a gas pipeline project for the fourth time.

He claimed total loan amount of Sharif family in the last seven years was Rs6 billion and added that 'Sharif brothers do not return bank loans.' “Minting money by remaining in government positions is very easy,” he said.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says he will go home if corruption proved against him.. Mian sb! you will have to go to jail not home,” said Khan. He said the whole country turns corrupt if the ruler was corrupt, adding that the demand for the PM’s accountability will change Pakistan’s destiny.

Imran Khan had begun his speech by raising voice for the rights of labourers’ in connection with the May Day. “Labourers will get their rights in Naya [new] Pakistan,” he said.

“Our society has forgotten about labourers,” said Imran Khan, adding that unemployment was at its peak in the country at the moment with over 5.2 million people currently unemployed.

He said the Western ethical values were greater than this society and added that is the reason why overseas Pakistanis do not return to their homeland.

Khan said destruction of any society begins from top to bottom and corruption weakens societies like termites. He vowed that he will improve management of national institutions and oppose their privatization if comes in power. He said hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will become exemplary for the whole country.