Nawaz’s ideology is nothing but corruption: Imran

HAFIZABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan lashing out at former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday that Nawaz’s ideology was only corruption. “Nawaz says that Nawaz is the name of an ideology. Nawaz’s ideology is nothing but corruption,” he said while addressing the participants of a PTI rally in Hafizabad. He was taking a jibe at Nawaz Sharif for his statement in a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz rally on November 19 in which he claimed that those who talked about minus Nawaz Sharif did not know that “Nawaz is the name of an ideology. This ideology will bring a revolutionary change in the country”. He criticised the government and the federal ministers for their support to the ousted premier. He accused Nawaz Sharif of earning money through unfair means while holding office. “Nawaz Sharif who has looted Rs 300 billion from the people has done nothing to stop Ishaq Dar or Khawaja Asif,” he said. “We will provide more proofs against Asif’s corruption in the coming days,” he claimed. “How can a country where all the rulers are corrupt ever progress? This is why we all need to prepare and fight this corruption mafia.” He said that a country that worked to protect its people and ensured justice “becomes invincible”. On class-based inequalities, he said that petty thieves were put in jails but big dacoits were sitting in parliament. “Corruption is the abuse of power,” he said, adding that the people in power should not be allowed to get favours for themselves. “Rulers have been siphoning money from the people of Pakistan… This money should be spent on the people, he said. “Pakistan has two main problems: unemployment and inflation, both of which are a product of rampant corruption in the country.” He said that the menace of unemployment was affecting the youth of the country, adding that the youth were looking for better employment opportunities. He said that a corrupt prime minister could never stop his ministers from corruption, signaling the ouster of ex-PM who couldn’t stop Finance Minister Ishaq Dar from corruption. The PTI chief stressed that only strong institutions could help make the country progress, adding that institutions in Europe were empowered for the betterment of the people. He raised his voice against the appointment of corrupt persons to head institutions. Imran Khan also lashed out at a particular section of the media that defended the ex-PM during trial in the apex court. “You defended the person who looted Rs 300 billion from the country,” he added, stressing that journalists were suppose to serve the country and report if anything is not working right. He said that the state in “new-Pakistan” would stand with the poor, provide employment opportunities and technical education so that the youth can be empowered. Khan spoke to eradicate corruption and poverty during his address. While addressing the rally, Awami Muslim League Head Sheikh Rasheed reiterated his claims that Imran Khan wants to help the people. “Imran has taken up important issues as such oppression and theft,” he said. “I am with Imran in his struggle.” There is rampant poverty in the country, people don’t have jobs, people don’t have money to purchase expensive medicines, mothers are being forced to sell their kidneys, he remarked. “I want to contest my last elections with Imran,” he added. Earlier, The PTI chief, accompanied by senior party leaders such as Shafqat Mahmood, Aleem Khan and Awami Muslim League Head Sheikh Rasheed, has reached the rally site. Earlier in the day, Imran asked the people to stop comparing him to political rival Nawaz Sharif. “Don’t compare me with Nawaz. My comparison with him is like comparing me with Sultana Dacoit,” he said. “Nawaz should tell how his financial assets were shifted abroad.” Imran Khan, during his brief media talk, said that ‘political’ people are being accused of terrorism. He said that he wants institutions to become stronger in Pakistan, adding that the former premier is attacking the institutions in view of saving his ill-gotten wealth. Khan recalled that when the Supreme Court issued directives against former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Nawaz had said that the court’s decision should be respected. Published in Daily Times, November 25th 2017.