Our leaders are running the country like the East India Company: Imran Khan

Published May 19, 2017
"They are getting richer and richer with each passing day by exploiting the country's resources," alleges PTI chief. —AFP
"They are getting richer and richer with each passing day by exploiting the country's resources," alleges PTI chief. —AFP

The incumbent leaders of Pakistan are running the country in the same manner the British ran East India Company, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan claimed while addressing his party's first public gathering in Quetta in five years.

“Our country is being run like a company,” he said, “In Sindh, we have Zardari’s companies, In Balochistan its Fazlur Rehman and Achakzai companies, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa we have Asfandyar’s companies."

“They are getting richer and richer with each passing day by exploiting the country's resources and taking them out of Pakistan,” said the PTI chief.

Pakistan is full of natural resources, and with the current potential it can become the richest country in the world, Khan said.

PTI supporters attend an anti-government rally in Quetta. —AFP
PTI supporters attend an anti-government rally in Quetta. —AFP

“If the laundered money is spent on the youth in the country, it will help develop assets for us in the form of skilled individuals,” he said.

Citing Germany and Japan as examples, the PTI chief said that these countries invested on their own people and now they are developed countries.

Turning to the Panama Papers case, “Nawaz Sharif, the people want you to speak the truth. They ask you, what business interests do you have outside Pakistan?” Khan said.

Imran was of the view that, "In any democracy, a person cannot become the leader unless he discloses his business interests.”

He also urged Pakistanis living abroad to bring forth information on the foreign businesses of Nawaz Sharif.

Discussing recent steps taken by the incumbent government to control anti-state content on social media, the PTI chief described these acts as an attempt to silence the voice of masses.

"Don’t mess with PTI's social media workers," he said.

Narrating his interaction with Balochistan's police officials, the PTI chief claimed that the policemen had kept asking him to bring police reforms in Balochistan like the ones he had brought in KP.

"Please remember, until the police are reformed people's lives are not safe; and until their lives are not safe there is no welfare or happiness or business. People are scared," he said.

People in KP trust the police because it is transparent, he said, adding that it was "an example for the rest of Pakistan".

Balochistan police need to reach the level of KP police, and we will make it happen, said Imran Khan.

PTI announces intra-party election date

PTI's election commissioner Azam Swati issued a notification on Friday announcing PTI's intra-party election date.

The polling will take place over a period of two days — from June 17 to 19, 2017.

According to the notification, candidates will have until June 4 to submit their nomination papers. Their names will be announced on June 5 and the rules and procedures will be set in place by June 10.

In addition, the PTI has finalised posts of its provincial election commissioners; Dr Haider Ali for KP, Iftikhar Farooqi for Sindh and Mir Nasrullah Rind for Balochistan.

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