Imran Khan vows to take Pakistan to new heights
Imran Khan addresses the Pakistani community at Capital One Arena, Washington, on Sunday. Twitter photo
Imran Khan, while addressing a large crowd at a community event at Washington’s Capital One Arena on Sunday, said that a “Naya Pakistan” (New Pakistan) was being created in front of people’s eyes.
“People ask ‘Where is Naya Pakistan?’ — it is being created in front of your eyes,” the premier said. Officials said over 30,000 Pakistanis attended the PM’s gathering at Capital One Arena in the heart of US. Imran received a warm welcome at the Arena.
Imran said principles of state of Madina were compassion, justice, rule of law, and looking after the women, children and elderly.
Imran said that the problem in Pakistan was that when political leaders were asked for answers, they say that political revenge is being taken, and when courts make decisions they say ‘”kyun nikala.”
“Today, what you see happening in Pakistan is what Naya Pakistan was about: these people had never been asked for answers before.”
Imran said in “Naya Pakistan” everyone is accountable and there could not be two separate laws for rich and poor.
He said merit and equality for all is our vision of “Naya Pakistan” where level playing field will be provided to every citizen. He said democracy has flourished because of meritocracy and accountability.
Talking about the debt of the country, he said Pakistan was looted by previous governments and its debt raised from six thousand billion to thirty thousand billion rupees in just last ten years. He said PTI government inherited huge debt and the national institutions were sinking in loss.
He said in “Naya Pakistan” public office holders are being held accountable. This is the real change and our country will become a welfare state.
The prime minister reiterated that he would not give NRO to plunderers and showed firm resolve to carry forward the process of accountability without being subdued to any pressure or blackmailing.
He said government has reached to agreements with different countries on the basis of which it will bring back the looted money stashed abroad.
Imran said Pakistan is blessed with minerals but the thing hinders us from their exploration is corruption. He said international companies are well aware of these treasures but they are reluctant to come in Pakistan because of corruption.
He said that he has given direction to investigate Reko Diq case in which Pakistan fined by World Bank.
The prime minister said his stance on Afghan solution is being endorsed and world has understood that there is no military solution for the issue. He pledged that Pakistan will transform and rise every year.
Appealing to the cricket mania, he said that Pakistan had the best players but they were being held back and gave an assurance that by insisting on meritocracy, he would make his country’s team the champions again.
A video package on Imran’s struggle for Pakistan was also showed before the audience.
Earlier, national anthems of United States of America and Pakistan were also played.
Addressing gathering of Pakistani community at Capital One Arena in Washington DC, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says Pakistan desires peace and stability in the region.
He said Pakistan has successfully curbed the menace of terrorism and peaceful elections in erstwhile FATA, terrorism affected area, are the beginning of development and prosperity.
He said we are here in US with a dream of peace and stability for the region.
Qureshi said Imran will share with US President Donald Trump, the roadmap of Naya Pakistan.
Acknowledging overseas Pakistani’s contribution in economy of the country, he said remittances in the last fiscal year have increased nine to ten percent. He said donations of overseas Pakistanis enabled Imran to build a state of the art cancer hospital and a university.
The Pentagon said Pakistan’s army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, will meet later on Monday with the top American military officer, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford.
Agencies
