Imran Khan announces election campaign

Lahore:  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the country would not be stable politically if the elections were not held.

“As long as the political stability does not come the financial stability cannot come,” said Imran Khan while addressing live on TV on Saturday.

Imran Khan said he tried to make the former army chief understand that if his government was removed then there would be no stability in the country. He said he also asked time and again for fair elections in the country.

The PDM and their facilitators, he said, feared of holding elections despite that the PTI dissolved the assemblies for elections.

“The crisis will deepen as long as the fair elections are not held in the country,” he claimed, recalling the fall of previous governments in 90.

He also mentioned torture on the journalists and his party leaders, pointing out that he was booked over 74 cases.

“Governors and ECP did not give election date but at last the Supreme Court delivered a remarkable decision for the elections’ date,”  said Imran Khan.

“An enemy cannot do with the country what they did today,” Khan lamented the coalition government, referring to the historic inflation in the country.

He mentioned the daily-used items including eggs, milk and other things had gone out of the reach of the common citizens. Khan also referred to the problems of the farmers and agriculturists.

The rupee, he said, fell down to maximum low and the POL prices went up to historic high during the coalition government as compared to the PTI government.

“Industry was improving and agriculture production was at 4.5 per cent and 5 million jobs were given to the people when PTI was in the power but now the situation has turned from bad to worst during this coalition government,” he said.

Khan shared a roadmap to steer the country out of crises.

“First, elected government is needed, a government with the trust of the public. Such government will be the first step to take the country out of crises,” said Khan, adding that no development or investment could be made until an elected government was brought to power and political stability is ensured.

The second thing, he said, was unity, because the newly elected government, the public and the state institutions would need to make collective efforts.  He also presented historic facts of different nations which worked for their well-being and development.

“We have to cut down our expenditures and we have to do restructuring and we have to take such steps—the revolutionary steps—collectively. For instance, investment through pension amounts as the pensions were a huge burden at the moment. Exports are the other ways to empower economy. Until we do not facilitate the exporters we cannot get out of the economic challenges,” he explained.

He stated that cultivation of olives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the best ways to earn dollars and these could soon be exported. Similarly, tourism was quite important for economic stability like Switzerland.

“How we can bring investment to Pakistan? Last year, there had been $2b investment in Pakistan and in India, it was $75b,” said the PTI Chief.  The country’s wealth could not be developed until investments in Pakistan, he added.

IT exports, he added, were the other factor to empower the national economy.

He said, “We need to make an environment for investment. For this, rule of law is important, because prosperity and rule of law both are interlinked,”.

Madina state, he said, based on justice system and the today’s world is witness of the significance of the rule of law.

“In our country, there is NRO. Did you ever hear about NRO in Norway and other European countries? There is justice. A hockey player was among the people who drowned in the sea. They go just because there is justice.

“Those countries have level playing field because their laws protect fundamental rights and ensure justice for the people. Investment follows justice system and rule of law,” he argued.

He went on to say that small medium industries were like a backbone of a country’s economy and they needed more protection under the law and protection to them empowered the economy.

Khan recalled Sher Shah Suri’s tale regarding rule of law and justice in his government.

“Many people asked me how I would be able to ensure rule of law in the country. They ask me why I do not talk to the opposition. General Bajwa asked me for NRO for the corrupt. I’m ready for talks and for compromise for the sake of the country,” he added.

The PTI Chief said that he was ready to forgive all those who attacked him despite that he knew him. He gave example of “Fatah Mecca” and said that Nelson Mandela also followed that path, because the Holy Prophet PBUH is great blessing for the whole world.

“I’m not here to take revenge for myself,” said Khan.

“10.4b dollars were spent by 20,000 Pakistanis in the UAE to buy properties,” claimed Khan, raising a question that why they invested money in the UAE.

He said that the money was going out of the country.

“Dollar problem will be solved if 500,000 Pakistanis decide to invest in the country, but for this, rule of law is important,” said Khan.

He claimed that they identified taxpayers through artificial intelligence and introduced reforms in tax system during the PTI government.

Minerals, he said, could be used to bring more dollars to the country.

In the end, Khan said, he would hold his first public gathering next weeks.

“I will distribute tickets among the candidates by myself within next two weeks. I came to know that some tickets were sold in the past and therefore, I decided to distribute tickets by myself,” he added.

He also emphasized upon strict implementation of party discipline and he would not tolerate violation of the discipline.

Khan said that a threat plan was being made to target him again and he knew the people behind it but now his party got changed as they would not fear.

The youth, he said, had now strong believe in God, adding that nobody could make slave.