Imran calls Fazl a ‘magnet drawn to power’

BANNU: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday said that Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman is just like a magnet, which is drawn to power as he becomes a coalition partner with every ruling party.

Imran was addressing a public gathering in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where he criticised his political opponents Fazl and Akram Khan Durrani.

“The condition of Fazl and Durrani is improving but Bannu’s condition is deteriorating,” said Imran.

The PTI leader lamented that the condition of the country has worsened as the US dollar has risen to Rs125.

“When the dollar rises against rupee then petroleum and electricity become expensive too. At this time in the sub-continent, electricity is most expensive in Pakistan,” said Imran.

Imran will be contesting elections from NA-35 Bannu. The PTI chief was also due to visit Waziristan later in the day; however, he will no longer be visiting the area for unknown reasons.

He will also be visiting tribal areas in the near future, where he is scheduled to address two or three public gatherings.

Furthermore, Imran is also scheduled to visit Karachi on July 3 and July 4 to address various public gatherings while in the city.

‘IF ELECTED TO POWER, PTI WILL STRENGTHEN NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS’:

Addressing a party’s workers convention on Sunday, marking the start of electioneering from the federal capital, the PTI chairman said that the party will give confidence to the people that their money will be spent on the public welfare.

“We will introduce reforms in public sector schools and hospitals as was done by the PTI government in last five years in KP,” he said.

Imran said that the institution of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will be restructured. He said that the country is currently collecting four thousand billion rupees in taxes, pledging that he will take the tally to eight thousand billion rupees.

Imran also said he will also strengthen National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in order to eradicate the menace of corruption.

He further said that whistleblower act will also be enacted to check pilferage. On the pattern of KP, conflict of interest and right to information legislation will also be introduced, he added.

Highlighting the threat posed by global warming, the PTI chairman said that mass scale tree plantation campaign across the country will be launched to secure the future of young generations from the ill effects of climate change.

Imran was confident that his party is fully prepared to contest the upcoming general elections. He said the party will hold a public gathering at Parade Ground Islamabad on July 23.

Terming the process of awarding ticket as labourious one, Imran said the PTI will hold intra-party polls after the general elections.

The former cricketer turned politician will be contesting elections from the NA-243 constituency of Karachi.

In total, the PTI chief is contesting elections from five constituencies, including NA-95 Mianwali, NA-131 Lahore and NA-53 Islamabad.

General elections will take place across Pakistan on July 25, while ballot papers for upcoming elections will start printing today. The printing of ballot papers will start in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi under the supervision of the army.

The distribution of ballot papers will also be carried out under the army’s supervision.

According to sources, 210 million ballot papers will be printed with more than Rs2 billion being spent on the exercise, making it the most expensive venture in the history of the country’s elections.