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Friday March 29, 2024

Army saved nation: Imran

By Mohammad Riaz Mayar
April 17, 2018

MARDAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Monday that they stood by the Pakistan Army as the Army saved the nation otherwise it would face the fate of other Muslim countries.

He also said that he stood by the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). Addressing a public meeting at Shergarh in Mardan district, he said: “Nawaz Sharif asks why he was removed from power, I tell him it is because he stole Rs300 billion.” He said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had finally buried the ‘doctrine of necessity’.

“Don’t be afraid of the threats issued to you. You have laid the foundation of a new Pakistan where all are equal before the law,” he declared while addressing the judges of the Supreme Court and Wajid Zia, the head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe corruption charges against Nawaz Sharif and his family. Imran Khan said that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party head Mahmood Khan Achakzai were against the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa “because they are afraid that PTI will get stronger in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the merger.”

He promised if the PTI came into power, it would merge Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and start development work and spend money on the welfare of the people of Fata. Imran Khan said the PTI would also hold local government elections in Fata after coming into power.

He warned that the PTI lawmakers who had sold their votes in the Senate election instead of voting for the PTI candidates would be expelled from the party. Imran Khan came down hard on Nawaz Sharif and his two allies, Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, in his speech.

The PTI chief said the 126 days sit-in staged by him in Islamabad gave awareness to the people. He advised the party workers to prepare for the general elections and attend the April 29 rally at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.

“I can see a new Pakistan – the Pakistan of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah — after the 2018 general elections”, he added. KP Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak in his speech said that the PTI-led government had brought about a change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He pointed out that changes were introduced in the police, education and health departments. On the occasion, the family of veteran politician Sarfraz Khan announced to join the PTI. Sarfraz Khan is a former MNA of the Pakistan People’s Party. He also remained associated with the Awami National Party (ANP). It is said youngsters in his family persuaded him to join the PTI.

A large number of PTI workers wearing party caps and carrying party flags attended the public meeting. It was termed a show of strength by provincial Education and Energy Minister Muhammad Atif Khan, who belongs to Mardan and is a top leader of the PTI.

The PTI activists chanted slogans in favour of the party and its leadership throughout the day and marched on the main Mardan-Malakand road to celebrate the arrival of the party chairman.

The banners and posters of Imran Khan, Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and Muhammad Atif Khan, as well as the central and provincial leaders of the PTI, were displayed at the venue and along the main road.