Prime Minister Imran Khan, expressed gratitude while addressing a large crowd at a community event at Washington’s Capital One Arena on Sunday, he extended his Thanks to people out there.
“I thank you from the heart for giving me so much respect today. I had thought that I will get to meet 500-1000 Pakistanis in a hotel in Washington and speak to them. I couldn’t even fathom that I would get to speak to all of you in such a big arena”
Earlier, the organiser of the event Dr Abdullah Riar had said that they were expecting between 15,000 and 20,000 at the event.
PM Imran was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, and Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari.
While Addressing the crowd in the American capital, Prime Minister Imran Khan talked about the Change, Democracy, Merit and Equality, Corruption,
The PM said that there were two mains reasons that that democracy had gone forward in the world and left monarchy behind, a system of merit and leaders being answerable.
He added sports example, “I have played cricket all around the world. I have seen the most cricketing talent in Pakistan. But [because] there is no system of merit, we can’t bring that talent up.
“This is why we are not dominating the world because there is no meritocracy.”
PM Imran said that America had a system based on meritocracy, through which good leaders replaced bad ones.
He said that in Pakistan there was a “type of monarchy” and merit did not come into play in the country.
“A society that doesn’t have merit, doesn’t go forward.”
The premier said that the second factor that took democracy forward was the leaders being answerable.
“Democracy is successful when the leadership is answerable.”
“We have seen Pakistan go down before our eyes,” he said, adding that in his early age Pakistan was a growing country during the 1960s, Pakistan was considered to be the fastest developing country in the subcontinent and Asia.
He further added “This is the same Pakistan we saw go down before our eyes.”
He said two things — public office holders being held accountable and merit — were required to lift the country up.
“Anyone who is a public office holder should answer to the people.”
While referring to political leaders in the country, he said: “They have one purpose, they want to hear three words from me NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance].”
He said that now the powerful individuals in Pakistan were being held accountable, which included the seizure of their benami properties.
“Remember this is the time that Pakistan will change, it is changing before you.”
The PM added that a merit-based system was required in the country.
“A system of merit will come when family-based politics end.
“Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is the first party where no relative or friend of Imran Khan is in any post,” he said, adding that new leaders, such as Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Division Hammad Azhar, would emerge from the party.
“Our country will rise before you. You will see we will fix the system and let the lower segment come up.”
PM said, My Pakistanis; one thing you have to remember that this country that we have been blessed with- no one has any idea how many blessings of Allah have been bestowed on us.”
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Corruption
Our country has been left behind because of one reason: corruption,” said the premier. he further added “By cleaning up corruption and showing to the world we have an honest government, we will attract investment from around the globe”
Education
PM Imran said that the education system in Pakistan did not allow the less privileged to come up.
The premier said that for the first time in Pakistan, they were attempting to fix the system of government schools in the country and attempting to introduce one main syllabus so that people have the opportunity to rise up.
he added there are three parallel systems and cultures in Pakistan, English medium, urdu medium, deeni madrasas. This would be the first step towards the betterment of education to introduce one syllabus for everyone, so that we become one nation.
Riyasat-i-Madina
The prime minister said that the current government’s vision was to turn the country into a welfare state on the pattern of Riyasat-i-Madina.
He said that the principles of Riyasat-i-Madina were compassion, justice, rule of law, and looking after women, children and elderly.
“Women were given rights for the first time in the state of Madina. It is unfortunate that our women in so many parts of Pakistan do not get their rights. But we are bringing in laws to protect the women of Pakistan.
The PM said that he would present the case of the Pakistani people before President Donald Trump, who he is scheduled to meet on Monday (today).
“I will not let you be embarrassed in front of Donald Trump.”
23 yrs ago, PM Imran Khan concluded his very first jalsa on this note:
“Never have I bowed before anyone other than Allah. And InshaAllah, never will I let my nation bow before anyone”
The premier concluded his address by vowing that he would never let Pakistan bow down before anyone.
