–Imran says poor-rich divide is greater than ever
JHELUM: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Thursday said that justice and meritocracy are essential for the progress of Pakistan, adding that “after judicial and economic justice, comes merit”.
While addressing a rally in Jhelum, Khan said that change is internal and from grass root levels; the country can only progress “when the standard of living of the poor rises which complements the standards of the society”. But in Pakistan, the divide between the poor and the rich is increasing with every day and the government has done nothing in this regard, he added.
Commenting on the hike in electricity prices, he said the prices have been increasing due to corruption rampant in the power sector.
Khan reiterated that merit is the foundation of country’s progress; giving the example of Australia, he said the country has the best cricketers because of its merit system. Australians are always first when it comes to Olympics, he claimed. However, not a single one of Pakistan’s players even qualified for the Olympics.
Earlier, Imran Khan said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif are responsible for the country’s adverse situation.
“The [2006] Charter of Democracy was an underhand deal between them. The entire country is in debt but they have become billionaires,” he said.
“Look at the children of Ishaq Dar, Nawaz Sharif and Zardari – they are all billionaires,” he added.
Announcing his visit to various districts of Sindh after Muharram, he said that his focus is now on Sindh. “In December, we will organise a huge public gathering at Mazar-e-Quaid,” he vowed.
Khan lashed out at PPP for corruption in Sindh and said that corruption is rampant in the province than any other province of the country.
“There is a commission on every project in Sindh and the money is being laundered to Dubai by [Zardari’s sister] Faryal Talpur,” he alleged.
Citing the need of a “genuine opposition leader” to keep a check on government, the PTI chief accused the federal government of giving massive development funds to Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah.
Nawaz destroyed every institution of the country by placing his friends as their head in view of protecting his corruption, he added.
