‘PTI has broken nexus of PML-N, PPP’

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has said that the politics of division will not work anymore in Karachi as its people have become aware enough to differentiate what is good and bad for them.

Addressing a party gathering in the PIB Colony on Sunday, Khan said that the corrupt governments had defaced the once ‘city of lights’ and the deteriorating system here bespoke of the incompetence of the political leadership and municipal authorities. Citing lack of opportunities, he said that in this case, Karachi looked towards the PTI and vice versa.

“We want to fix the problems of this city,” he claimed, urging people who have interest in politics to join his party at its membership camps. “I will contest the election from Karachi [too]. We will win. And then we will restore the system,” he vowed, “We want that people should overcome their problems and differences and should think about real progress.” While speaking to a similargathering at the Perfume Chowk in Gulistan-e-Johar, the PTI chairman said that Karachi was the city from where all political campaigns used to start but then it fell prey to hatred and violence. “A leader brings people closer, not divide them further,” he said, apparently referring to the ethnic card in politics here.

Similarly, at the Chandni Chowk in Saeedabad, he explained the thought behind the PTI’s slogan of ‘Naya (New) Pakistan’ and said that it meant a change for good. He said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People’s Party ruled the country for years but did nothing for its people.

He remarked that the PTI had broken the nexus of PML-N and PPP and will hold all corrupt elements, who have put people in problems, accountable. Mentioning the petroleum price hike, he said that his party leadership was well aware of the problems that people faced and will fix all of them.

At Liaquatabad, he said that the system could not function properly until corruption was there. He said that to bring a lasting peace in the city, the government and state institutions should be clear of political interference. He added that the investment to create more job opportunities here was also necessary. He commented that Karachi would not prosper until a prime minister gets elected from here.

Khan criticised the police and said that they have been unable to arrest former SSP Malir, Rao Anwar, wanted for the murder of an aspiring model in a ‘fake’ encounter, and said that he was involved in the killings of over 400 youths in the city. “Police seem busy in protecting the thieves while they should have been serving the public.” Citing the police reforms like in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said the PTI will bring similar changes here.

Later, at the Burns Road, he said that Karachi was pushed to the brink of devastation in the past 25 to 30 years and historically those who do so never fix their wrongdoings. He said that due to worsening political and administrative situation, investment flew out of the city.

Speaking to the people, he mentioned the examples of Japanese and Germans on how they coped with their crisis in just 10 to 12 years to become the leading nations in the world, again. “Similarly, this city could only progress when its people will change their rulers.”

He said that the whole country was in the need of a better governance system as the current ones had failed. He claimed that such system was in KP, where the PTI is in power and it was the best amongst all others. He said that the PTI will make Karachi a better city to live in, with its local bodies having all the required powers and resources.