GILGIT: Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday lashed out at the opposition parties for staging what they called ‘Azadi March’ in the federal capital in a bid to topple the democratic government and categorically said he reiterated his stance that would not resign nor would he given any corrupt person National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
Speaking at a public meeting here, he said the country could not progress until and unless the menace of corruption is rooted out and those who looted the country are taken to task.
He said the nation knew all those people and also the reality of the ‘Azadi March’, adding corruption cases of all those “unemployed, political orphans, rightist and leftist” gathered in the federal capital had surfaced and reiterated that no corrupt person would be spared.
The prime minister said the opposition parties were so much confused that none of them had a clear agenda, Bilawal Bhutto was participating in the March as a liberal while Mahmood Khan Achazai, who was a strong opponent of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, was also attending it.
The prime minister came hard on JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the opposition parties and said, “gone are the days when the name of religion Islam was used for making money and reaching the corridors of power”.
He was critical of the Maulana’s role as Chairmanship of Kashmir Committee and said the Maulana was a favourite of the Indian media as they were portraying him as if he was India’s citizen.
He said two opposition parties in their ten years tenure had increased Pakistan’s debt fourth time high, adding the country’s total debt in 60 years were $6 billion while in the last 10 years it had reached $30 billion.
Those people siphoned off the looted money through Hundi and money laundering and their children were now billionaire, and they were not ready for accountability, he added.
He said corruption destroyed societies and countries and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had struggled against corruption for 22 years, adding that “those nations become developed and progressive who spend money on their people.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan paid tribute to martyrs of 1947 to 48 Independence War against the Dogra Raj and said he had come to Gilgit to celebrate the 72nd Independence Day with the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
“This is the land of Ghazis and martyrs and the people of Gilgit Baltistan must be thankful to the Allah Almighty that are not experiencing the hardships and tribulations the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir were facing right now.
He said the scenic Northern Areas have great potential of tourism, adding that he had visited the entire world but this was the most beautiful area on earth.
He said the present government was fully focusing on promotion of tourism in these areas and had opened Pakistan for international tourists, adding that the people of 70 countries would be given visa on arrival along with no objection certificate requirement for foreigners who wanted to visit the scenic Northern Areas.
He said these steps would boost tourism in Northern Areas and fuel economy of the region besides the people of the region would get jobs with the increased economic activities.
The prime minister said the present government were focusing on resolving basic issues of Gilgit-Baltistan which was ignored by the past governments.
He said the scenic beauty of these areas could be exploited to its true potential.
He said the government was planning and in contact with foreign countries and investors to attract foreign investment for development of infrastructure of these areas.
He said electricity availability in winter would be made ensured. He said a private company was sitting up a processing plant which would preserve the local fruit for a long time. The prime minister congratulated and expressed best wishes to the people of Gilgit Baltistan for their Independence Day.—APP
