GUJRANWALA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan criticised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari for their alleged corruption and said these leaders had destroyed the country.

Addressing public meetings in Kamoke, Eimanabad, Chan da Qila, bus stand, Shaheenabad, Alipur Chowk, Ladheywala and Ladheywala Warraich village here on Wednesday, the PTI chief said the Punjab chief minister had gone to the UK for a medical check-up as all his family members do, but questioned why Shahbaz had not constructed hospitals in Punjab that could provide the required health facilities here.

He said Shahbaz had spent Rs650 billion on development projects in the last 10 years and alleged that the CM embezzled huge funds through the Multan Metro Bus project. Talking about himself, Imran said he, on the other hand, had constructed a modern cancer hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Rs4 billion where medicines were available at cheaper rates. The same medicines, he claimed, were being sold in Punjab on double prices.

He said that the PML-N leadership would be in jail soon “owing to their massive corruption”. He reiterated his longstanding claim that both the PPP and PML-N had looted the country and were taking turns to form governments for the last 20 years. But in the upcoming elections, the PTI would come to power after defeating both the corrupt parties with the support of the people.

At the Ladheywala Warraich public meeting, the PTI chief was presented with a 40-tola gold crown as well as a 50-tola silver bat by new entrants to the party, Mian Tariq Mehmood and a former MPA,who were both formerly with the PML-N.

Earlier, possible clashes between activists of PML-N and PTI on GT Road were foiled by police.

When PTI workers shouted slogans against Nawaz Sharif and his party while passing by the office of PML-N leaders Salman Khalid Butt alias Pomi Butt, deputy mayor and MPA Imran Khalid Butt the party activists responded by pelting them with stones. But police deployed on GT Road foiled a clash between workers of both parties.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2018