Imran terms Nawaz, Shahbaz, Zardari corrupt politicians

Ag Agencies

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has said Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari have come to power several times but they failed to solve the problems faced by public.

While addressing a gathering, Imran Khan said his party would save the state institutions after coming to power following General Elections 2018. He said he is fighting with the forces of status quo.Branding former premier Nawaz Sharif Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari as corrupt politicians, he said the PTI has vowed to defeat corrupt lawmakers in the coming elections. The nation is turning poorer while the leaders are becoming richer, he said. Corruption is the biggest reason for inflation, PTI chairman added. Corruption is eating the country away like termites, Khan said. He said a common Pakistani is indebted to the tune of Rs 130,000 due to the external loans the successive governments have taken on harsh terms. The "thieves" have stolen hard earned money of the labourers making them poorer, he added. The PTI chief urged the youth to join his movement against corruption and for a better, prosperous Pakistan. Speaking at a business community event at a local hotel, Khan said the issue of power is amongst the important ones in the country and suggested private investment in the energy sector to overcome this challenge. “The governments’ facilitation to the business community amounts to moving towards improvement.” At the Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry event, the PTI chief held negative politics responsible for the current situation of the country and said those doing politics for personal gains should be held accountable for bringing the government and the state institutions to ruin.

Addressing the transporters at Mauripur, he said Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif remained in power for over 20 years but ignored the issues faced by people and ruined the institutions. “They always use police for their personal interests.” He said Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz and Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party had taken their chances to form governments several times but they did nothing for the public and instead promoted loot and corruption.

A TV anchor Aamir Liaquat Hussain and actor Abid Ali announced joining Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf at a press conference chaired by Imran Khan. Hussain, who at different times in the past had been associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan and also served as a state minister, said “PTI is my last stop.” He thanked the PTI chief and other leaders for their “warm welcome”.

At the mention of his statement of quitting politics, he commented that humans are social animals and they learn throughout their evoultionary process. “People say different things at different times. The only thing that matters is their destination.”

He opined that decisions made after a lot of consideration are always viable and those made in haste don’t last long. “[In this case] I have not joined Imran Khan but his struggle to make Pakistan a better place. I stand by with the person who wants to eliminate corruption and mafia rule from the country.”

Karachi is changing rapidly, he said, while referring to the fall of the unified MQM. “Yesterday there were two public gatherings of the same party. The way they have been reduced to specific areas only, very soon they will be confined to their homes.” He said Imran will win the upcoming general election from Karachi and his party will make a clean sweep. “The PTI is not a plant but a giant tree whose shadow is also covering the city.” Addressing on the occasion, the PTI chief said people change with time and if someone didn’t do any good in his past life it does not mean that they should not try anything positive now or in the future. “All of us have both negative and positive sides.” Khan said Karachi was once “the city of lights” and the“Sheikhs” from Dubai would come here to spend vacations but the corrupt politicians ruined it. “Those who destroy never fix their damages.”

On reforming of the Senate, he said the PTI successfully stopped the way of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party from coming into power there. “This is one of the biggest successes,” he remarked: [And] the appointment of Senate chairman from Balochistan would help redress the problems of the province.”

He asked Karachiites to join PTI if they wanted to make their city better and liveable. “The change that we pledged is visible in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We are proud of it.” He added that Amir Liaquat Hussain is a vocal person and has a following in public. “We hope his support will be beneficial to the party.” Actor Abid Ali said given the number of “good” people in the PTI he believes that Karachi will regain its glory if the party forms a government here. “I have witnessed the good times in Karachi. The PTI should be given a chance, he added.”