News
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Tsunami rally ‘attacked’ by heavy storm, rainImran vows to build ‘New Pakistan’; makes 6 promises
* PTI chief pledges to always remain honest; wage jihad against oppression; keep assets in country; not indulge in misuse of power; protect taxpayers’ money; protect rights of overseas Pakistanis
By Kashif Hussain
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Saturday emerged as a fresh alternative to the outgoing Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who have dominated civilian governments in the country for decades.
The cricket legend pledged before tens of thousands of people at a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan that he will work to build a ‘New Pakistan’ where corruption, oppression, misuse of power and public money and nepotism would have no room to ‘flourish’, as heavy wind and rain forced an early halt to what he said his landmark rally just days before the general election.
Imran used the common political trick of popular slogans and promises to charge an enthusiastic crowd and convince them to vote him in for the next five years. He made six commitments with the nation at his campaign rally organised to launch his bid to become the next prime minister in the May 11 general election. Imran pledged in his speech to always be honest and truthful, wage jihad against injustice and tyranny and side with the oppressed if he came to power. He pledged that he will establish supremacy of the law, will never leave Pakistan and keep his all assets in the country. The PTI chief said, if rose to power, he would never indulge in nepotism and misuse of power and will protect the taxpayers’ money. “I will try to enhance respect of overseas Pakistanis in foreign countries,” he promised.
Imran also secured three commitments from the people gathered there to listen to him that they will support him in his war against oppression; always remain truthful and will render their services to his party to become ‘Volunteers of Change’. Imran said he chose the venue and date of his public meeting in memory of his father, Akram Ullah Niazi, who, at the age of 19, attended the 1940 public meeting where Muslims passed the historic ‘Pakistan Resolution’. He said he was present there to announce the making of a ‘New Pakistan’.
Imran said he would not make false promises with the people to secure votes, like increasing minimum wages to Rs 18,000, and added that he would commit only what was possible for him to deliver.
He announced that, after coming into power, his government will convert Lahore’s Governor House into a sports ground and its building into a public library. He told his party workers and newly elected office bearers to remove him from his position as chairman of the PTI if they find him dishonest or guilty of dishonouring his promises.
Heavy rain accompanied by a windstorm forced Imran to cut short his speech, with sound system failing and people leaving the venue before he could announce his party’s manifesto.
PTI President Javed Hashmi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Abdul Aleem Khan also addressed. Prominent singers Ibrarul Haq and Salman Ahmad also performed on the occasion.
A huge number of youth, including a good number of females as well as families, were present at the rally. Heavy security was seen at the venue of the meeting.
Participants of the rally were seen talking about chances of success of the party in the upcoming election. Some of them were of the view that PTI could succeed in securing 15 to 20 seats as, according to them, it had not worked in the rural areas which comprised around 70 percent of the total electoral seats in the country.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk