Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has showed his huge public support at Minar-e-Pakistan ground where he unfolded 11-point agenda under much-orchestrated 'new Pakistan' phrase with prime focus on education, health, investment, anti-corruption measures, job opportunities through promotion of tourism and technical education, agricultural emergency, strengthening of federation, one municipal system for entire country, reforms in environment sector, improvement in governance and equal opportunities to women.
"If voted to power, PTI will introduce reforms, strengthen federation giving due rights to the federating units and establishing South Punjab province on administrative grounds to empower people through strong local bodies system," Khan told supporters at the party's power show in a city that is considered to stronghold of ruling PML-N. He emphasised PTI's special focus on health and education for the empowerment of the people.
He announced FATA would be merged with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. He said NAB, FBR and FIA would be strengthened to check wrongdoings while taxes on electricity, gas would be reduced. For encouraging investment, there would be ease of doing business while overseas Pakistanis would be given incentives for promotion of industry. About 20 MPAs of his party who voted other party's nominees in the Senate elections from KP, Imran said: "We have videos showing you counting currency notes."
He vowed to eliminate corruption from the country. Imran pledged to introduce health insurance scheme across the country while maximum resources would be allocated for education. He said there would be focus on tourism sector and maximum job opportunities would be created through this sector.
Imran lamented that today's Pakistan is neither matched with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam nor Allama Iqbal's. He elaborated reasons that forced him to join politics. He said there were two moments in his life one at the time of death of his mother due to cancer and secondly when he was collecting donations for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.
Expressing concern over the country's sorry state of affairs, Imran said we are at crossroads; we have to change the country's direction. During 60 years of the country's history, there was loan liability of 6000 billion of rupees which rose to 13,000 billion of rupees in 2013 and 27 thousand billion of rupees in 2018. He said that situation has reached to the point that we have to obtain loans for repayment of loans. He said, if voted to power, the PTI would collect revenue from within the country by reformed taxation. He said revenue of about rupees 8000 billion would be collected from Pakistani nation.
Imran also criticized Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for spending about Rs 350 billion only in Lahore. How many schools, universities and hospitals of international standards have been established here, he questioned. He said no country can make progress without human resource development. He assured the gathering that international standard hospitals and educational institutions would be established.
He thanked participants for turning out in a large numbers from across the country to witness the 'historic' gathering. "Whenever I gave a call to you, you never disappointed me," he told the cheering crowd who patiently listened to the speech of Imran for about two hours. Speaking about his 11-point agenda to make a new Pakistan, he said, "Ask yourself, why was this country made? Why did on this ground in 1940 Quaid-e-Azam declare we want Pakistan?"
The PTI chief said Prophet of Islam (PBUH) brought the entire Muslim nation towards truth and righteousness by way of his own example. The Muslim nation then ruled the entire world for 700 years but as soon as the royal system of kingdoms was established, the poor became poorer and the rich became richer.
Referring to a visit by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to the United States earlier this year, Imran said it was embarrassing for Pakistan to see its PM treated with disdain at US airports. On the occasion, videos about Ayub Khan, Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to the US were shown to the audience.
He lamented Pakistan has the highest number of out-of-school children after Nigeria. Imran recalled his late mother's battle with cancer and how it spurred him to build Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital. "When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I found out for the first time that Pakistan did not have treatment for cancer," he said, as he recalled how the tragedy changed his life forever.
Recalling his party's struggle, Imran said people used to mock them. "In first election, we got none, in second election we got one seat. But today, we are the largest party in Pakistan. Time will prove that no one can defeat PTI." He also mentioned Ahsan Rasheed and Saloomi Rana who both died due to cancer.
Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid also spoke. He said he has chosen to stand with Imran Khan and PTI because he wants change. "I want change for the poor. There is no water, no electricity, no gas, no jobs and no governance." He predicted end of Nawaz [family] politics was imminent. He praised Imran Khan calling him the most suitable, honest candidate. He said people make mistakes but Imran is a clean man. He lauded Chief Justice of Pakistan, saying he is waging jihad against the injustices and poverty. PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry asserted PTI would make one and a unified, not two Pakistan.
He vowed PTI would make a Pakistan where thousands others can have access to [quality] healthcare like Maryam (Nawaz) who is able to ensure cure of her [ailing] mother in London. PTI leader Senator Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said huge public participation has showed Lahore, Punjab and Pakistan belong to PTI and that Imran Khan is the next prime minister.
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