- PML-N’s Rashid grills Khan for his ‘crimes’, Kirmani calls for support for ‘heirs of Quaid-e-Azam’
- PTI chief admits failure in health, education sectors in KP, asks citizens to vote for Naya Pakistan
With by-polls for NA-19 Haripur approaching, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) paddled up on the election campaigns by organising political rallies in the constituency.
As Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid took the podium to address a rally at Sirikot organized in connection with the upcoming by-polls scheduled for August 16, he said that PTI chief Imran Khan is seeking votes to send his candidate in the same Parliament he once wanted to burn down.
Rashid said PML-N has forgiven Khan for “crimes” he had committed but the same are not forgotten.
Asking for votes, the minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is determined to build motorways, seaports, metro-bus projects, and establishment of electricity projects in Pakistan. He said the development projects initiated by the government will bring prosperity in the country, which will result in reduction of poverty.
The minister said PTI chief Imran Khan last year dubbed 14 August, the nation’s Independence Day, as black day and came out to attack parliament and what a duplicity he has that now he himself is canvassing to send his party’s candidate to the same parliament.
Moreover, addressing on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Political Affairs Dr Syed Asif Saeed Kirmani said PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government had failed to deliver as it was being run from Bani Gala instead of Peshawar.
Kirmani said that the said election was a contest between the PTI and the people, who had played an important role in Pakistan Movement. It was a contest between the heirs of Quaid-i-Azam and those who had distorted the country’s image, he added.
KHAN SPEAKS OUT:
In the meanwhile, PTI Chairman Khan also remained busy on Sunday in campaigning for the Haripur constituency.
Praising the local bodies in KP in front of a political gathering in the area, Khan said such a system empowered the common man. “If local bodies system is implemented, people will not have to go to high-ups and beg them for their due rights,” he said.
Asking people to vote for his party candidate in the by-elections, he said it was a fight between the new and old Pakistan.
“The old Pakistan was where ISI chief confessed to have bribed people and his case is still in pending, whereas in new Pakistan, PTI’s lawmaker was charged and arrested for doing corruption,” said the PTI chairman. “For the first time in Pakistan an incumbent minister was arrested over corruption charges and this happened in PTI’s tenure.”
While he accepted his party’s failure in completely revamping the health and education infrastructure in the province, he vowed to work until there was a change.
“I regret that there are two issues we have not worked on: hospitals and universities. Until we bring about a new system we cannot change the deplorable conditions of hospitals in KP.”
He urged those present not to become obstacles in the way to ‘new Pakistan’ and vote for his candidate.
On June 19, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja had ordered re-polls in NA-19 after a tribunal ruled in favour of PML-N candidate Omar Ayub Khan.
Khan had provided proof of irregularities and demanded de-seating of PTI candidate Amir Zaman. Suspending Zaman’s National Assembly membership on December 31, 2013, the tribunal ordered re-polls in seven out of NA-19’s 437 polling stations.
