WANA/ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called for open hearing of the foreign funding case of all political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and Jamiat-e-UIema Islam-F (JUI-F) for clarity of the issue among the masses.

“I ask for open hearing or even on live television of the foreign funding case with all parties, including JUI-F of Fazlur Rehman, PPP, PML-N and PTI sitting there…,” he said while talking to media persons here at the Cadet College Wana.

The prime minister said the PTI was the pioneer of political fund-raising campaigns and had all the records of fund donations, including the names of 40,000 people. He regretted that how the funds collected from the Oversees Pakistanis, whose remittances were playing a major role in running the country, could be described as foreign funding.

The prime minister said he was thankful of the opposition for raising the issue of foreign funding as it would help clear the situation and the nation would know the reality of how the funds were raised. The opposition parties also knew the facts about the PTI’s fund raising as well as their sources of foreign funding, he added.

About the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) gathering outside the Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday, the prime minister remarked if he would have known the number of people attracted by 11 political parties he would have asked the PTI workers to join them at the show.

The PDM parties’ movement, he said, was a drama of to get an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) through blackmailing tactics. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who always remained in power and had no answer of how he made billions of rupees properties, was just trying to regain power, he remarked.

To a question, the prime minister referred to the economic hardships his government inherited such as the huge US $ 20 billion current account deficit and US $ 40 billion trade gaps, which pushed devaluation of rupee and caused increase in prices of essential imported commodities, including pulses, ghee, petroleum products and resultant hike in energy prices.

He also mentioned 18th Amendment of the Constitution, which required the Federal Government to consult the provincial governments before taking major decisions of public importance.

The prime minister, however, added that with the grace of Allah Almighty the situation was improving and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s economic indicators were showing positive trends, including enhanced exports, positive current account in 17 years, Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector growing and textile industry booming.

To a question, he said with 70% poverty level the areas of South Waziristan and Balochistan were left behind due to various reasons and now the government was making all-out efforts to ensure their uplift.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said it was due to the loot and plunder of previous regimes led by the thieves that the regional countries like Bangladesh were now ahead of Pakistan in terms of economic development.

“Even if you appoint a thief as head of a factory, it will not achieve progress,” he remarked.

The prime minister said Prophet Muhammad (PBUM) had stated that the nations having different laws for the rich and the poor ruined in the past. He said as history was witness to the fact that the nations, including Germany and Japan which stood again on their feet through reforms after the 2nd World War had to face difficulties, his government was also working on reforms to bring about a change in the country, which also required some patience.

Imran Khan said despite all economic odds, the government was committed to and would provide all resources for the development of merged districts (tribal areas) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said the people of tribal areas, who never bowed before any force, always fought to remain independent and even sacrificed their lives in Kashmir, were real democratic people as their decisions were made through consultation in the Jirga system.

The prime minister said the government would do all to ensure the socio-economic uplift of those areas, which were neglected in the past and faced difficulties in the wake of war against terrorism.

Besides the establishment of a big university covering 5000 canals in the area, the government would provide resources for basic amenities like health, education, clean drinking water roads etc, he added. The prime minister said all the families of merged districts would be provided the facility of Rs 700,000 per annum health insurance while the youth would be given stipends and loans under the Ehsaas Programme.

Cadet College Wana

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the second phase of Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan. Under the project, the Cadet College will get two new hostels, teachers’ accommodation, clean water supply, a mosque and a multi-purpose hall.

The expansion of Cadet College Wana will not only benefit the local students, but also belonging to other parts of South Waziristan.

In addition, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for widening and repair of Tanai Gul Kuch Road.

The road will ensure better transportation facilities to the adjoining population.

Rule of law

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said with focus on ensuring rule of law sans any discrimination of the rich and the poor, the present government was striving to bring about a revolution in the country, which had already started.

“If you want to assure yourselves about the start of revolution, you can see the faces of all thieves, who have joined hands and come out on roads. Big thieves, who were looting the country for the last 35 years, have now come together and are now seeking an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance),” he remarked.

The prime minister was addressing a gathering of tribal elders after inaugurating a state of the art hospital at Maula Khan Sarai on the occasion of his visit to South Waziristan.

Imran Khan said he would urge his critics, who question about his promise of a Naya Pakistan and welfare state, to study history books to know how the State of Madina was established and was made a welfare state after facing difficulties for four to five years.

He said the State of Madina, which was established under the great leadership of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), brought about the biggest revolution in history and eliminated the old system of monarchy through rule of law, justice for all, and taking care of the poor and downtrodden.

The principles of the State of Madina were being followed even in today’s modern era by various welfare states in the world, he added.

The prime minister referred to the anti-government drive of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and said their only objective was an NRO, which he would never give. Former president General retired Pervez Musharraf, despite having all authorities and power, could not sustain pressure and gave two NROs, he added. Referring to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders and their family members, he questioned if the thieves took the public resources abroad and led luxury lives abroad, how the government would spend and allocate funds for the people’s welfare in the country.             The present government was fighting the war for rule of law in the country, he added.