Khan finally decides to focus on KP first

• PTI decides to let go of politics of sit-ins, focus on development, reforms in KP
• PTI VP Qureshi voices doubt over govt’s intention regarding JC while info minister slams PTI for ‘negative politics’
• Khan assures govt of PTI’s support to counter terrorism, warns to give countrywide shutdown call if JC not formed

While sticking to the demand for the formation of a judicial commission to probe alleged poll rigging, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman (PTI) Imran Khan said Sunday that his party has decided to forego protest sit-ins and will redirect all its focus on making Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) into a model province.

Addressing a dharna convention in Islamabad hosting PTI workers, the PTI chief highlighted measures that were being taken in KP to improve the governance system.

He said the police system in KP has been transformed and that reforms were also being introduced in public hospitals.

“Private practice of doctors has been banned in banned in public sector hospitals. Similar reforms will also be introduced in the education sector so that public sector institutions can be brought at par with the private institutions.”

“All appointments and promotions in bureaucracy would be on merit,” said Khan, adding that no case has been registered against political opponents in KP.

The PTI-led government in KP is ready for the local bodies elections but the delay is from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), maintained the PTI chief, adding that Sindh and Punjab are “not ready” for LB polls.

“Major change will come through the local government system after which powers will be devolved to the grass root level.”

He announced the KP government’s plans to clean cities, provide clean drinking water to the people of KP and plant one billion saplings over the next three years.

FATA REFORMS:

The PTI chief also announced that PTI would soon come up with a new manifesto for the tribal areas.

He said the PTI has decided not to create hurdles for the government to fight terrorism but emphasised that the key to peace in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is in the hands of the locals “who should be involved in dialogue for eradication of terrorism”.

“When PTI comes to power in the country, it will change the old colonial system and bring a new programme for tribal areas.”

KHAN WANTS JC FOR MAKING ‘NAYA PAKISTAN’:

Speaking about alleged vote rigging in 2013 General Elections, the PTI chief warned the government that his party could still shutdown the country if a judicial commission was not formed to probe alleged rigging, adding that the party’s sit-ins and subsequent shutdowns of different cities have proved that it has the ability to shut down the country.

However, PTI’s destination is ‘naya Pakistan’ and not a judicial commission, clarified the PTI chief.

“No one should be under the impression that PTI has backtracked on its word to build a new Pakistan.”

Addressing the workers’ convention, Khan alleged that there was “unprecedented” rigging in 2013 elections.

As ballot boxes are being opened for recounting, it has become clear that the elections were rigged, he said, pointing out that 34,000 bogus votes were found which had no CNIC numbers or stamps of presiding officers.

Taking aim at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah, Khan said that 2015 would be the year when the former Punjab law minister would be sent to jail for arrest and torture of PTI workers during protests in Faisalabad, adding that the former law minister would also be brought to book for the Model Town tragedy.

Khan also slammed authorities for their failure to arrest those who fired at PTI workers in Jhelum.

The PTI chief accused the government of paralysing life in the country by creating a gas, petrol and water crisis.

He ruled out the allegation that the PTI’s Islamabad sit-in was “scripted”, adding that the dharna and protests had exposed PTI’s “fair-weather friends”.

Moreover, Khan assured journalists that PTI would raise its voice against their victimisation at the hands of owners of media outlets.

Also addressing the convention, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he still doubted the government’s intentions regarding the proposed judicial commission, adding that a decision had to be made now to take PTI’s protests to a “logical conclusion”.

RASHID SLAMS KHAN FOR ‘NEGATIVE POLITICS’:

On the other hand, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, in reaction to the PTI leader’s speech, said that now was not the time for negative politics and that a concerted effort was needed to address the issue of terrorism.

Rashid told Khan to expose the performance of the KP government in the war against terrorism.

The minister said that the PTI chief’s demand for vote probe in four constituencies had already been met, adding that Khan would always face embarrassment when the results of his demands would be brought forward.