KARACHI - Calling to implement local government system in true spirit, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Sunday said that Mayor should be empowered to resolve the issues of Karachi which was currently being treated as an orphan.

He said that currently the local government system is powerless in the city which is main reason of the destruction while secondly it is unfortunate that money that should be spent on the development of Karachi was being transferred to Dubai. Since long the parties those remained in the power were actually working without any base in the city and took the direction from leadership residing abroad, having negative ideology and lack of interest in the affairs of economical hub of country.

Khan expressed these views at event “Meet the Press” at Karachi Press Club (KPC). On his arrival at press club, KPC President Ahmed Malik, General Sectary Maqsood Yousufi and others office bearers gave warm welcome to PTI chairman and his party delegates.

Talking about the Karachi miserable situation, Khan said that Mayor Karachi is deprived of powers which is the main reason behind the Karachi destruction‘s story. The money that should be used for the progress of city is being send abroad while the people those were given stake to resolve the city issues has done nothing for citizen.

Coming down hard on Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), he said the provincial government had been failed to provide the basic necessities to the people.

Khan said PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should inform the masses about development projects undertook by his party. “The PPP is having the government in the province for last 10 years but no progress has been made,” he added.

Imran said Bilawal made tall claims in multiple statements recently but was unaware of the actual issues faced by the people.

Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Founder Altaf Hussain residing aboard ruled the city and people were still waiting for the betterment, said Khan and suggested the Mayor should be elected directly who can run metropolitan system as practiced in across the world.

Praising the PTI provincial government works in KP, Khan said that party ruling government in the province has made reforms in the local government system and policing. The empowerment has brought good results. Whereas, in Karachi, police did not play its part that was the reason paramilitary force Ranger was called to control the law and order situation of Karachi. He further said that in KP province law and order situation is under control and people were now having confidence on the police department.

“KP witnessed terrorism but now the situation is completely and peace could be witnessed across the province. Some of political leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari never wanted to depoliticise the police department as in past they used the department to accomplish their nefarious plan which is the main reason that other province is still observing the failure. Since year 1998 PPP and PML-Nawaz has remained in power but has done nothing for the betterment of departments including police, health and municipal authorities,” Imran added.

He said: “I am visiting Sindh and Karachi with an aim to bring change in the rotten system which is been practiced by the corrupt elements since years, said Imran. In fact the real issue of Sindh and Karachi is that the elected parties from the both urban and rural region after election never focused on affairs but if PTI is given a change its will put all efforts to facilitate the resident of Sindh province.”

To a question, Khan said that he said party had come up with the results in the movement against corruption and it had hit the wickets of Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif. He said both these leaders looted the peoples money and become one of the richest person in country but this has affected the poor and these people corruption made them suffer more.

To a question about Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PTI Chairman said that, he don’t want to comment on the Bilawal as he consider him as a child who is not aware about what actually happening in the country.

To another question about election of Chairman Senate, Khan said that election of Chairman Senate form Balochistan province is victory of the party ideology as PTI moved with the agenda to bring people from the small province in the upper house. He claimed that PTI after coming in power would empower the assemblies and Prime Minister would be directed to answer the questions on the assembly floor on weekly basis. The people those were pointing fingers on me over the horse-trading in the Senate polls had forgotten that JUI-F Chief Moulana Fazalur Rehman and Nawaz Sharif were the sovereign of horse-trading and their chapter of corruption in past and present were evident of their evil practices against the democracy.

To a query about the alliance with PPP, Khan said that everyone is invited to join PTI ranks but he should work as per party‘s ideology whereas joining hand with the corrupt elements is quite hard for the PTI leadership and there is no space for such people.

Earlier talking to the media men at Karachi International Airport, Khan lambasted PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari saying that Bilwal don’t know how a person works to earn bread. Giving statement and claims in not enough for the Bilawal should be aware actual problems being faced by the people.

Khan said that said that the chief justice of Pakistan would not have had to give a week’s time for Karachi to be cleaned had there any work been done in the city by PPP, the party which has been in power in Sindh for long. During last 10 years what work have PPP ruling government has done so far, asked Imran adding that people were getting sewerage water in their drinking water tanks.

It is pertinent to mention here that, PTI chairman is on today visit to Karachi to review party membership campaign in metropolis being carried out by PTI Karachi Chapter in the month of March across the city.