PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday said that the ‘state institutions’ and the government had employed every tactic against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder Imran Khan, but failed to either make him submit or weaken PTI.
‘Imran Khan represents an ideology that cannot be made to bow,’ the chief minister said after laying the foundation stones for two major projects under the Peshawar Revitalisation Plan, according to a statement issued from his office.
The projects include the upgradation and improvement of key roads and routesacross the city, and construction of the Pishtkhara Chowk underpass.
Mr Afridi said those taking decisions behind closed doors were focused on foreing Mr Khan to submit, while showing no concern for the direction in which the country was heading. ‘We have never violated the Constitution or the law in the manner the corrupt and imposed rulers have done,’ he said.
Reacting to a recent statement by the Punjab chief minister, Mr Afridi termed it extremely regrettable and strongly condemned it, adding that the statement had effectively undermined the very narrative of a strong and stable Pakistani state.
‘We have had the friends of Modi imposed on us; whatever they say is forgiven because they are the favourites,’ he said.
‘On the other hand, if one of our workers even speaks of peaceful protest, he is imprisoned. Fascism in the country has reached its extreme,’ he said.The chief minister further alleged that a series of lavish foreign visits were being undertaken by the imposed rulers, resulting in the waste of public money, adding that ‘people will deliver their verdict on September 27 and people will prevail.
Regarding the proposed Mianwali-toLahore street movement, the chief minister said the plan had been postponed for the time being and that he would travel to offercondolences overthe death ofaparty worker and that a future course of action would be announced thereafter.
‘Our worker was preparing for Miladun Nabi when he was picked and thrown into a cauldron of oil. He has now been martyred,’ the chief minister said, adding that what greater indifference and fascism could there be as these people [without referring to anyone] had crossed every limit of oppression.
Mr Afridi said that development projects under the Rs200 billion Peshawar Revitalisation Plan were progressing at an accelerated pace and would be completedahead ofschedule, addingthatthe government’s efforts were focused on improving public welfare and ensuring better services and facilities for citizens.
‘In line with Imran Khan’s vision, we are pursuing the struggle for real freedom while, at the same time, delivering public service to the highest possible standard, the statement quoted the chief minister as saying.
He said that timely completion of development schemes was a key government priority and that projects aimed at public welfare would not be allowed to face unnecessary delays.
Mr Afridi said that, in accordance with Mr Khan’s vision, the provincial government had placed KP on a path of development and prosperity through improved and transparentgovernance.
He said provincial revenue collection had increased from Rs93 billion to Rs150 billion during the last financial year. ‘We will raise revenue collection to Rs200 billion during the current financial year,without imposing new taxes,’ he said.
In contrast, he said, the ‘fake federal government’ had presented five budgets, yet the country’s economic and social conditions continued to deteriorate, adding that the country was being run on borrowed money, petrol prices were being increased repeatedly, and the federal government had no policy and no concern for the people.
The statement said that the two projects had a combined estimated cost of Rs9.3 billion. The key roads and routes upgradation project includes the upgradation, rehabilitation, beautification and improvement of 19 major roads and routes in the city under Phase-I, at an estimated cost of Rs7.2 billion.
Phase-I(A) covers nine major roads, while Phase-I(B) includes seven roads and other routes.
The Pishtkhara Chowk underpass project has been initiated at an estimated cost of Rs2.1 billion and is scheduled for completion within three months.