Speakers at Shura Hamdard Karachi chapter meeting have urged people to give time to new government to resolve national problems while the government channelize energy and passion of youth in reconstruction of the country.
They were expressing their views on the theme: 'Newly-elected Government: Challenges and Expectations.' They said that Prime Minster Imran Khan-led government has motivated people and change has come in the shape of a multi-dimensional prime minister.
General Sikandar Hayat (retd) said that new government had created new spirit, courage and resolution in the nation and imbibed with these qualities the nation could turn the tide in its favour. He said Pakistan is an unusual country. It is being opposed from the first day by its big neighbouring country which has not accepted Pakistan till today and has created a lot of difficulties in its way embroiling Pakistan in a pile of problems
However, these problems can be surmounted with national unity and Imran Khan has been emerged as a symbol of unity, he asserted. Prof. Dr. Tanveer Khalid said, of course, Imran Khan's government was inexperienced, but it has a valid public mandate and with the help of masses it would overcome all deficiencies. She said change has come in the country with a handsome prime minister.
Prof. Dr. Khalida Ghous pointed out that social problems and structural reforms were not being discussed. She said economic policy was also not put forth by the new government.
"If subsidy is not given by the government on education and public transport, who else will do that," she questioned. The scholar stressed that governor houses, being the historical assets and national heritage, should be preserved and action against them was tantamount to destroy the history. She urged government refrain from disturbing history.
Former Justice Haziqul Khairi emphasised that the government must not transfer the burden of subsidy granted on large scale, to the masses, indirectly.
"Foreign tourists should be given facilities according to their culture in specific areas to promote tourism in the country," he proposed. Dr. Abubakr Sheikh was of the opinion that PM Imran Khan was a populist leader and had passion but lacked experience and skills. He said PM Khan did not set his priorities so far. He claimed Khan became prime minister as a result of judicial activism.
Commodore Sadeed Anwar Malik (retd) said that PM Imran Khan had talked of the state of Medina so he should deal with Israel in the light of 'Meesaq-e-Medina' in order to stop RAW's activities in Pakistan through MOSSAD and to pressurize Pentagon turning Israel in favour of Pakistan. He said this would not only change the policy of Israel against Pakistan but also provide us ample opportunities to learn as the former is a far advanced country in science and technology.
Col Mukhtar Ahmed Butt (retd) said that Imran Khan got public votes on the slogan to bring back looted money of Pakistan which seemed not possible as the stealing of money was still going on and the country has to pay Rs6 billion on daily basis as the interest of external debts. "Governments of Pakistan have been printing paper money without depositing the gold of equal value in State Bank, resulting devaluation of money," he said.
Former Judge Zia Pervez said the power plants running on oil engender huge financial problems for Pakistan and there was no law to punish those people who inflicted huge financial damages to the country. He said a bottomless ship has been handed over to Imran Khan with the expectations that he would quickly sail it to the shore.
Khurshid A. Hashmi said when God is content and kind to a nation, He produces a good leader in that nation to sail its boat safely out of the troubled waters. He said Imran Khan was a new leader with new vision; he would do well for the nation.
Prof. Muhammad Rafi said that the big achievement of Imran Khan was that he kept the orthodox parties at bay and didn't allow them to make big success in general elections of 2018. He said PM Khan needs time to make the house in order and we should support him in his efforts.
Shamim Kazmi said that the biggest issue for Imran-led government was that it has to create social awareness among the illiterate masses. "We have found a good man in the shape of Imran Khan and we have no option but to hold him up and support him," she stressed.
Prof. Dr. Akhlaque Ahmed urged the new government to take water problem seriously and pay full attention to resolve this issue. He asked the rulers to implement simplicity in letter and spirit as extravagancy had destroyed Muslim nation in the past. He called for introducing National Development Volunteer Programme (NDVP) to provide jobs to youths as already done in University of Karachi. Engineer Syed Muhammad Sadiq also suggested some lines of action for PTI-led government. He stressed on professional approach without which nothing good could be achieved regarding resolving the problems of the country. He exhorted that general expenditure of PM House and governor houses should be reduced drastically and 100 top corrupted persons should be caught and punished and modern technologies be adopted to minimize unemployment. He said these steps would pave the way for success. Shura Hamdard members offered fateha, expressing grief and sorrow over death of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz. Ibn-e-Hasan Rizvi, Dr. Rizwana Ansari and Safia Malik also spoke.