Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said that democracy in Pakistan could only flourish if it is based on accountability and merit.
Addressing graduates at Namal College’s sixth convocation in Mianwali, the premier said the reason democracy never strengthened in Pakistan was because its previous leaders never actually worked to attain power.
“In a functioning democracy, there is no space for hereditary politics and sincere leaders only rise to power after a period of struggle. Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif faced no such struggles; they were hand-picked for positions of power,” the premier said.
“Similarly, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father, Asif Ali Zardari, inherited leadership of their party.”
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“Democracy replaced monarchy as the preferred governance system because it is based on meritocracy and accountability,” PM Imran said.
Citing China as an example, he said though the economic giant does not have a traditional democratic system, its governance model is one based on merit and accountability.
“China’s leader, President Xi Jinping, rose to power after a 30-year struggle. Today, China has a system that does not afford any individual special privileges; almost 400 ministers have faced accountability in China on charges of corruption.”
Reiterating his commitment to serve the masses, the prime minister asserted that a nation can only rise if public money is spent on public welfare.
The prime minister also spoke on the pressing need to improve the country’s economy.
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“We are blessed with natural resources which we have failed to ever properly utilise. Today, we are disproportionately reliant on imports and our exports have consistently declined over past decades,” he said.
“A major reason for this has been our failure to adapt modern technology. Our agriculture sector lags behind because our farmers do not know the latest techniques and do not have the latest tools.”
In his concluding remarks, Premier Imran reposed confidence in Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and criticised Shehbaz Sharif’s recent comments about his successor.
“He [Shehbaz Sharif] had something to say about Usman Buzdar. My question to him, though, is who are you to say anything after getting everything through your brother?”
With additional input from Radio Pakistan.
