ISLAMABAD: PTI chief Imran Khan told his workers to stop voting for leaders who do not care about them.

Speaking to workers at the Islamabad Convention Centre, he announced that he will hold a big rally in Islamabad on July 23.

Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, Kulsoom Nawaz and Captain (retd) Safdar have all gone abroad for their medical treatment, he said. “If the hospitals in Pakistan are not good enough for these politicians, then why are they good enough for our citizens?” he asked.

He criticised the water shortage in Islamabad and said that if this is the state of affairs in the capital, then the rest of the country must be even worse. He said that the situation in Karachi is so bad that, due to the water mafia, only those with money get any water.

Referring to a UNICEF report, Imran said that Pakistan has one of the highest child mortality rates because of the consumption of dirty water. He said 200,000 children die from this every year.

Criticising his opponents for having all their assets abroad, he said that when your assets and money is abroad, so is your attention.

“Don’t vote for a party whose leader who doesn’t live and die in Pakistan,” he told participants of the convention. Their priorities are different from yours, he reminded them.

“How many hospitals did Shehbaz make in Lahore during his tenure as chief minister where he and his family are willing to be treated?” the PTI chief asked.

It is time for change, he said, stressing the importance of governance. He said he would strengthen the police and NAB to improve the country’s institutions.

I will do what the PPP and PML-N have not done, he vowed. I will strengthen institutions, reduce expenditures, spend money on government schools and hospitals and raise the amount collected from taxes to eight trillion, said Imran.

He said Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz were unable to put an end to corruption because they were corrupt themselves.

He also said he would spread his tree plantation campaign across the country. “Unless we plant trees, we cannot stop heatwaves,” he said.

Speaking about his party’s election ticket allotment, Imran said no matter whom he chose, people were going to be disappointed. He chose 600 candidates out of 4,000 candidates and said it was hardest to choose candidates for the reserved seats for women. APP/AFP