Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and prime minister-designate, Imran Khan Wednesday said that he will nominate the best and clean candidate for the slot of Punjab chief minister. While addressing PTI's parliamentary party meeting here, he said that the selection will be made purely on merit, adding that the process of making 'Naya Pakistan' will take place from Punjab.
"We pledge to make Pakistan a welfare state in its truest sense, as established by the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) hundreds of years ago. A state can be transformed into a welfare state only through justice, rule of law and meritocracy," said the PTI chairman while addressing the first ever meeting of the parliamentary party of Punjab.
He said, "We have to provide relief to the people of Punjab." He called for making the process of awarding tickets more transparent and better by introducing reforms. "We have to make the PTI an institution," he remarked.
Khan, who is likely to take oath as Pakistan's next prime minister on August 14, further added that the nominee for Punjab CM would have a clean image while calling on all members to support the nominee. Khan vowed to depoliticise Punjab police department and making it autonomous. Reiterating his earlier plans, he remarked, "We will also have to improve schools and hospitals in Punjab. Nation's money should be spent on improving the lives of people."
Khan said that the PTI had secured two-thirds majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "We have to fight real war in Punjab and we will fight it together. In general election 2018, the political battle was between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PTI in Punjab," he claimed. Imran congratulated his party members on winning a "tough election." Everyone knows that the real battle was fought in Punjab, he remarked.
"Several deserving candidates were deprived of tickets but they managed to secure victory under independent capacity," Khan argued. He urged the party leaders will start preparation for the next general elections immediately.
Later talking to media persons, Vice Chairman PTI Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the people of Punjab have voted for change in the province in July 25 general election.
He said that there was a tough competition between three largest political parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PML-N in Punjab.
The PTI leader said that the voters of Punjab put the PML-N on defending, adding that the province's voters have also rejected the PPP. He said, "The country's economy and foreign affairs are facing many challenges." He added that the PTI would implement its manifesto honestly.
Commenting upon joint opposition's protest over alleged election rigging, he stated that a group of crooks gathered in Islamabad. The only driving force behind the flop-show was hatred against Imran Khan and fear of popularity of PTI.
"We now have the required majority to form our government in the Centre as well as in Punjab," he said. He added that PTI is the only party that has representation in all provinces and the Centre. He thanked independent MPs-elect for extending their support to PTI.
Sharing the details of Chairman PTI's address, Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated that Imran Khan tagged election 2018 distinctive, as masses categorically rejected the corrupt elements. Qureshi said Imran also took the party into confidence over the challenges faced by the country. He said the PTI government will focus on the challenges on economic and foreign relations fronts.