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Published 07 Feb, 2016 07:21pm

Imran urges govt to fulfil demands, threatens protest

QUETTA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, during his visit to Balochistan on Sunday, threatened to launch a country-wide protest if the government failed to address his party’s five demands.

The PTI chief urged the government to reduce petroleum prices, eliminate taxes on gas and power supply, improve management of national institutions and pay salaries to employees of Pakistan Steel Mills.

"Accept these demands and don't force us to come on roads," the PTI Chief told flag-waving supporters in Dera Murad Jamali area of Balochistan.

Imran demanded a further reduction Rs5 in price of petrol and Rs20 in price of diesel to benefit the citizens.

“The government suffers a loss of Rs700 billion at per anum because of tax theft,” he lamented while quoting the statement of former finance minister Shaukat Tareen.

The PTI chief demanded of the government to reform the Federal Board of Revenue and bring back the plundered wealth from foreign countries.

He pointed out that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had stated that millions of dollars plundered wealth was lying in Switzerland. "Bring back this money and compensate the down-trodden masses of Pakistan," Imran demanded.

"This is democracy not monarchy, you must declare assets," he said, asking the premier to declare his assets.

Moreover, Imran assured the people of Balochistan that if PTI comes into power then no excessive force will be used against the masses.

"Security forces will not open fire and force would not be used against people who demand their rights," Imran assured the PTI supporters who had arrived from various parts of the province.

He lamented the fact that despite supplying gas to other parts of the country, many areas of Balochistan were still without this basic facility.

"I came to know about injustices with smaller provinces when PTI came into power in KP," he said.

Imran said that instead of taking his younger brother on foreign tours, Nawaz Sharif should take chief ministers of Khyber Pashtoonkhwa and Balochistan along with himself.

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