NA-120 by-election will decide Pakistan’s future: Imran

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a massive show of power in Lahore on Friday, where party Chairman Imran Khan said that NA-120 by-election will decide Pakistan’s future.

Addressing a rally in Qurtaba Chowk, he asked the party supporters to stand with the judiciary on September 17. “Exercise your right to vote in favour of the law,” he said, adding “Your vote will empower the judges.”

The fight for NA-120 will witness PTI’s Yasmin Rashid go head-to-head with PML-N’s Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

“Give it some thought before you vote in favour of Nawaz Sharif. Voting for him will mean that you have given the dacoits a free pass to do whatever they want. Remember that you have to vote against the dacoits.

“If you want to vote for the biggest dacoit then all the imprisoned petty criminals should also be released.

“This is the time to change our path and bring about change.”

PTI chief mentioned that he is baffled at the amount looted by the Sharif family. “I played cricket in Britain for 13 years after which I was able to afford a flat there,” he pointed out.

“We should ask PML-N leaders what business Nawaz’s children were doing, which made them billionaires at such a young age,” he said.

Qatar prince was nothing but a fraud, he added.

Strong institutions are imperative for strengthening nations, he pointed out.

Maryam Nawaz can try her best, but the people of Lahore will vote for PTI’s Yasmeen, he said.

“We live in a country where the powerful are never held accountable. The powerful can get away with anything,” he said, adding that people have to come together against this injustice.

“Hopefully, Yasmin Rashid will prove to be victorious in this by-election,” he added.

Discussing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said, “We reduced poverty by five per cent; we planted a billion trees; we improved the public hospitals; we helped the needy; we formulated policies for the nation.”

Imran said that the only change Shehbaz Sharif has brought about is changing the uniform of the police.

‘NA-120 BY-POLL NOT AGAINST ONE PERSON BUT AGAINST PUNJAB GOVT’

PTI’s candidate for NA-120 Yasmin Rashid, during her speech, said: “As a result of Imran Khan’s struggle, we saw the day when rule of law prevailed; for the first time in country’s history the powerful politicians were brought before the court and held accountable for their actions.”

“We struggled a lot but our efforts bore fruit when the former prime minister was disqualified,” she remarked.

“Nawaz Sharif should be embarrassed. This constituency voted for him thrice but he did nothing for the people here.”

“You [PML-N leaders] should go and talk to the people [in the constituency]. Only then you will realise what these people want,” she said.

The NA-120 by-poll is not against any one person rather it is against the Punjab government, she claimed, alleging that their rivals are engaging in efforts to rig the voting process.

Earlier, Imran said that NA-120 by-poll is not just another election. “The by-poll is a contest between ideologies.”

Nawaz Sharif has no money trail, Imran pointed out, adding that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is trying to depict that the nation is against Nawaz’s disqualification.

PTI CHIEF MEETS MWM MEMBERS:

During the day, Imran had met members of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan (MWM), which has expressed its support for PTI in the NA-120 by-poll. “I am thankful to MWM for their support,” Imran added.

To ensure security during the rally, SP Security Ibadat Nasir informed that about 2,000 police officers were deployed in the area. About 19 inspectors, including 250 traffic wardens, have been deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic, he added.

The party’s decision to hold the rally at Qurtaba Chowk, Jail Road, despite the district government’s advice not to, created traffic problems for commuters.