LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan on Monday concluded his election campaign displaying his political strength in Lahore, the stronghold of Sharifs, asking his workers to ensure no one should rig the July 25 general elections.

Following rain in the city earlier in the day, Mr Khan addressed four public rallies in the city, one each in NA-128, NA-125, NA-134 and his own constituency NA-131.

The last day of election campaign witnessed a number of rallies and corner meetings in different parts of the city.

The PTI held a massive car rally on Gulberg’s Main Boulevard where its supporters frantically chanted slogans as they played loud party songs in their cars.

In his speeches, Imran Khan, dispelling the propaganda against him, said all minorities were dear to him like the Muslims. “The PTI will ensure that all the Muslims and minorities should live in peace and enjoy equal rights in Pakistan,” he said.

The PTI chairman said Pakistan was passing through a critical phase as the previous rulers had looted its wealth and stashed money abroad, leaving the youth jobless and people deprived of even the basic facilities.

“It is time that the people should come out and vote for the PTI to bring about a positive change in Pakistan,” he stressed.

He also called upon women to come out of their homes on July 25 and play their role in creating ‘Naya Pakistan’.

Mr Khan said the PTI, after coming into power, would introduce quality local government system in Punjab, reform police and develop educational facilities, including technical colleges for the youth.

Alleging that former premier Nawaz Sharif looted Rs300 billion and laundered the sum abroad, Mr Khan said now the PML-N Quaid was trying to pose as a victim in Jail and crying for facilities.

He said Punjab’s ex-chief minister and PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif seemed terrified for being “exposed for his corruption and using police to kill people and grab properties”.

Claiming the PTI government reformed police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said no one could blame them (KP police) for killing even a single person during the last five years.

Mr Khan regretted that Shahbaz Sharif ignored the remaining Punjab and spent almost all development budget of the province in Lahore.

He said the PTI government in KP improved education and health facilities and provided other basic facilities to the masses. He said the PTI government also planted 1.18 billion trees in KP, adding: “The KP did not make progress in advertisements only”.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2018