Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday came down hard on the incumbent government for what he said flawed economic policies, saying it is due to these policies, each Pakistani owes Rs 110,000 debt, which was Rs 35,000 during previous regime.
"The government is busy in getting loans after loans, while the people will have to pay it through direct and indirect taxes. The children of the rulers are flexing muscles for taking turns if people did not raise voice against them," Imran Khan told an election rally in connection with November 30 local government elections in the federal capital, at Tramri chowk.
Referring to development package announced by the prime minister for Lodhran during a recent visit, he said that the Sharifs were free to announce Rs 2.5 billion package ahead of by-elections, but Imran is barred to convey his party manifesto to his people. Imran denounced government restrictions on political campaigning, saying that due to barricades installed in the city, he had to take a route through farming fields to reach the venue.
"I especially thank my tigresses who reached the jalsa site despite a lot of barricades...when I came to know that the government is creating hurdles, I said no matter what, I will get there," he said. He called upon the people to wage jihad against the corrupt rulers, and said the crime will increase if the masses did not raise voice against the corrupt mafias, adding that we are fighting for our rights and we should stop the cruelty.
He alleged that Pakistan People''''s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Zardari had devoured Rs 6 billion of Pakistanis, adding that why the government is acting as silent spectator instead of bringing the said amount stashed in foreign banks. "It was your [Pakistanis] money that he has escaped with. I ask how many people came out of their homes to protest against this and what the government has done to bring the money back despite tall claims when it was not in power," he added. He said that it was not the military only, the people also want eradication of corruption. "Not only army, people also demand better governance. If we''''ve democracy in our country, is it not my right to come to my people and talk to them?" asked Imran.
mran said his party was not alone as the people will stand by him through thick and thin. When the next election will come, he added, PTI will not be in need of election campaign as our work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will speak for itself. Earlier in the day, PTI chairman Imran Khan turned down a request by Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to desist from holding a rally in capital in accordance with ECP''''s code of conduct. But Imran addressed a mammoth rally of his charged supporters at Taramri Chowk who reached the venue despite all the police barricades.