Islamabad: Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, who is poised to become the next Prime Minister of Pakistan, has pledged to introduce polices for the masses and not for the ‘elite’.
In his victory speech on Thursday evening from his house on top of the hill in Bani Gala in the capital Islamabad’s suburbs, Khan shared his ambitious plans for the country and vowed to safeguard the interests of the ordinary people. "I will live humbly because I belong to the masses and come from you," he said in a televised video message.
According to provisional unofficial results, Imran Khan’ PTI has won the majority seats (118 until the last count) to be able to form the government without any majority political alliance. He needs 172 seats out of the total national assembly 342 which has 70 reserved seats including 60 for women and 10 for minorities. Polls were held on 272 seats and he need to win 137 out of it. With the help of independents and smaller parties, he is comfortably placed to be the prime minister.
“I am thankful to people of Pakistan for giving me a chance to realise my dream of ‘Naya (new) Pakistan—free of corruption,” said a visibly happy Imran who was clad in white shalwar kameez (national dress of Pakistan).
Imran also responded to the allegations of election manipulation and rigging by the other major parties who lost the elections. “I promise to provide you full assistance required to investigate such allegations,” he said. However, he made it clear, this was the most transparent election ever held in Pakistan.
Imran said he did not enter politics to be in the power. “I want to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state ─ the type of state that was established in Madina, where widows and the poor were taken care of," he explained.
He said the state of Pakistan is in a shambles today and ‘I want to make policies for the less fortunate to prosper.”
He also pledged to introduce tax reforms and make institutions stronger. “Corruption will not be tolerated and the accountability will start from me, then ministers and so on.
“We will make investment friendly policies and tackle the menace of unemployment. We will introduce the kind of governance system that has not been seen before in this country," he said.
There is a sense of jubilation and festivity across the country over the thumping majority the PTI has gained after its poor performance in the 2013 elections. This is a rare success as Imran Khan himself was not sure about it and only three days before elections had expressed his concerns about a possible hung parliament in the country. “It would be pity if we have a hung parliament,” he had said.
Imran has given a road map to success - policies on education, health, revenue generation, zero tolerance against corruption, investment, employment, agriculture, strong federation, measures to counter global warming, police reforms and women empowerment.
Imran Khan’s promise of 10 million jobs and 5 million homes in first 100 days is also another challenge to fulfill.
According to the analysts, once the euphoria of victory subsides PTI would have to deal with serious challenges facing the country.
Imran Khan contested elections on five National Assembly seats and out of those five, he has claimed four seats while result on one seat in Lahore is awaited.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is the runner-up in the National Assembly with 61 seats while the Pakistan People’s Party could secure only 40.
Imran’s victory speech promises:
- Friendship and trade links with India
- Decrease in government expenses
- Polices for ordinary people and farmers
- Safeguard tax revenue
- Tackle unemployment
- Strengthen institutions
- Accountability for all
- Business and investment friendly environment
- Formulate polices on ties with with China, Afghanistan, Iran, US and Middle East
The nation must stand behind Imran Khan
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Deputy UAE Editor
Dubai: Pakistan has finally recorded a big change at the political front with cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan winning the national general elections with a thumping majority, according to trends.
The election trends show that Imran is all set to be the next prime minister of Pakistan single handedly without the need to enter into a coalition with any major political party. This means that he can run the government without having difficult and demanding allies.
In what is being termed as historic elections despite allegations of ‘rigging’ by the losing parties as is always expected, voters have given their verdict in favour of Imran for ‘change’ in the country. They have rejected the status-quo parties – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who have been taking turns at the helm for the last three decades and faced corruption charges.
Another major trend in the 11th general elections of Pakistan was that voters, especially educated youth and women, turned up in droves at polling stations to ‘vote for change’ in the country. They also rejected extremists and religious groups who lost badly in this election sending a clear message to the world that Pakistanis shun such elements and prefer to have a moderate, forward looking leadership.
No doubt, the biggest ever polling exercise in the country was conducted largely peacefully with a little disturbance in some areas. Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) has also swept the elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province where the PTI was ruling for the last five years. What is more amazing that PTI has also emerged as a strong party in Punjab which is considered the stronghold of Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N. Imran will be an all-powerful leader if he manages to take control of Punjab.
Though Sindh province goes to the PPP as was expected, PTI emerges as the second largest party to everyone’s surprise. This again is a big achievement for Imran.
The role of Pakistan’s armed forces in helping the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct free, fair and transparent elections is also commendable. Now, they should stay away from any kind of meddling in the government-making process to thwart allegations of manipulating elections.
Without any bias, Imran Khan has emerged as a powerful force in Pakistan in his endevour to make ‘Naya (new) Pakistan’. Positive signs have already started showing with the stock market showing a bullish trend soon after his win.
He now must come up with immediate plans to fulfill his promises of changing the fate of the country through his economic, education and healthcare reforms. He will have to devise clear and forthcoming foreign policies vis-à-vis India and the US.
Major political parties must stand behind an ambitious Imran and give him a chance to prove himself instead of resorting to unnecessary protests to hamper a chance to change Pakistan.