Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday said his party is laying the foundation of a true democratic system in the country in which every ruler will be held accountable by the public and nobody will have the luxury to fritter away the public money for personal gains.
Addressing the 6th convocation of Namal College as chief guest, the prime minister compared the despotic regimes with that of the democratic system and said the West progressed due to continuity of the democratic system which had merits. He said Pakistan was created under an objective and that was to follow the principles of Riasat-e-Madina and the ideals of its founders Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.
The Riasat-e-Madina had laid the foundation of the first modern welfare state in the world in which there was parity among all the citizens, who enjoyed complete religious freedom, whereas the rulers were held accountable, he said, and added that the Muslims laid the foundation of the world’s greatest civilization on the basis of Riasat-e-Madina. “But the Muslims lost the glory when they deviated from their basic principles,” he said, and cited the fall of Mughal and other Muslim empires ruled by the kings while the West gained by enacting the Magna Carta, which attempted to hold the rulers accountable.
The prime minister said the people can rise to the heights if they have foundations in their culture, but if an alien culture is imposed upon them, they develop slavish thoughts and found themselves lowly. Only independent minds can rise, he said.
He said in Pakistan, military dictators introduced Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in the power corridors. The former had struggled a lot but the latter was first made a chief minister and then the way was paved for him to become a prime minister on the basis of formation of IJI (Islami Jamhoori Ittehad), he added.
PM says military dictators introduced Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in power corridors
Referring to Leader of Opposition Shehbaz Sharif’s criticism of Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the prime minister reiterated his confidence that unlike his predecessor, Buzdar will emerge as the best chief executive of the province. Buzdar, he said, would not misuse his office for setting up sugar mills or amass wealth.
“He neither uses huge protocol nor flies in special planes. His son-in-law is not an absconder. He will not go abroad for his treatment rather he will set up quality hospitals in the province,” he said. Chief Minister Buzdar, he said, belongs to the tribal areas, which lack basic amenities, including power supply and hospitals. He is cognizant of the issues and is in the best position to tackle them, he added.
“On the other hand, Shehbaz assumed the charge of party affairs by default,” the prime minister said in clear reference to disqualification and jail sentence of his elder brother. In a vague allusion to the Pakistan People’s Party co-chairmen, he said on the other hand a father and his son are carrying papers to claim that they have inherited the party.
The prime minister said China made its 400 ministers accountable on the corruption charges. “President Xi rose to prominence with his 30 years long struggle whereas Premier Li also has the same lifelong efforts in the political life because the country has the basis for merit,” he said, and added that under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the country is now heading towards such merits.
Narrating the long political struggle of PTI, he said life never marches on the straight line as there are ups and downs. A successful person never nurtures for fears from his failures rather he takes the bull by the horns, he said, and reminded the students that they have the immense potential to excel in life. “The challenges in life will give you courage to face them by using the hidden innate talents. Hard times can challenge you and there will be ups and downs, but the university education will equip you to better analyze yourself,” he added.
The prime minister, who is also chairman of the Namal College, advised the students that they should have no such objectives to amass money as the people, who have the eyes on same goals, are never witnessed enjoying a happy life. “You have to always ask yourself what is the purpose of your birth,” he said, reminding the students to serve the humanity instead pursuing their personal gains and reject the materialistic view.
Published in Daily Times, January 28th 2019.
