Accusing the incumbent rulers of destroying the economy, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said that the nation won’t forget the ‘traitors’ who imposed an ‘imported government’ on them.
Addressing a political gathering in Chakwal on Monday, Imran vowed to never side with the ‘thieves’, saying that as long as he is alive, he will continue to fight ‘these thieves and those who back them’.
The former premier claimed that during his term all areas of the economy were progressing, adding that the opposition of the time colluded with ‘conspirators’ to topple his government, giving rise to a financial crisis.
He went on to add that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) colluded with the media houses that were ‘on their payroll’ to push the idea that the economy was sinking. He pointed out that there has been a threefold increase in the power tariff ever since the PML-N led government came to power.
“People are burdened under inflation; during my term, the economy witnessed its highest progress in 17 years,” Imran said. “[On the other hand], the government has burdened farmers as the exports fall, industries close and unemployment increases.”
“Our government left behind a $16 billion current account deficit but we also elevated the country’s revenue to $63 billion,” he maintained.
The PTI chairman warned the ‘traitors’ that the nation and Allah will not forgive them for imposing thieves on the masses and thus, subjecting the country to a tyranny.
Army chief’s appointment
According to Imran, unlike the PML-N and PPP leaders, he wasn’t born in the ‘establishment’s nursery’ and he came to power after a 22-year-long political struggle.
He made it clear that no country can progress without prioritizing merit, adding, “You don’t have any future if 60% of the members of the Cabinet are on bail, and corrupt people like Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari become leaders.”
The former premier also reiterated his remarks that were earlier condemned by the military and the coalition government, stressing that the army chief should be appointed on merit. “Only the nations that prioritize merit are the ones that progress.”
“Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif can never be allowed to appoint the next army chief because they can’t see beyond their family members.”
Imran opined that if there was any merit in the aforesaid parties, then Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would not have been the leaders. “Likewise, Hamza wouldn’t have become chief minister,” he said.
Referring to his controversial statement about the military, the PTI chief told the Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) that he should have considered him to be correct [as far as his remarks about the army chief’s appointment were concerned].
Journalist Matiullah Jan has said that with the retirement of the Army chief approaching, Imran Khan is seeming more nervous and hence is appearing angrier during his addresses.
عمران خان کی گھبراہٹ بڑھتی جارہی ہے جوں جوں پرانے آرمی چیف کی ریٹائرمنٹ قریب آرہی ہے، اس لئے وہ زیادہ غصے میں نظر آرہے ہیں آج تو یوں لگ رہا تھا کہ وہ جو بھی انقلاب لانا چاہتےہیں وہ چکوال میں ہی لے آئیں گے، مطیع اللہ جان@Matiullahjan919 https://t.co/GVY3g94sFr pic.twitter.com/LT0glLXIOD
— Naya Daur Urdu (@nayadaurpk_urdu) September 19, 2022
