LAHORE, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, addressing his party’s power show at the iconic Minar-e-Pakistan on Sunday, lamented that today’s Pakistan is neither the vision of Quaid-e-Azam nor Allama Iqbal.

Addressing the jalsa, Imran, who earlier dubbed it a “Tsunami plus show”, expressed his gratitude to the participants for turning out in large numbers to witness the “historic” gathering.

“Whenever i gave a call to you, you never disappointed me,” he told the crowd.

Speaking about a 11-point agenda to make a “naya” (new) Pakistan, he said, “Ask yourself, why was this country made? Why, on this ground in 1940, did Quaid-e-Azam declare that we want Pakistan?”

Pakistan, today, is contrary to Quaid and Allama Iqbal’s vision, he rued.

“The Pakistan that Quaid-e-Azam wanted would afford equal rights to all citizens including the minorities, where the Hindu community, Sikhs, and Christians would be equal citizens. This country was to be formed on the model of Madina, where the basis of law was justice,” Imran said.

Quoting Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) example, the PTI chief said, “Prophet (PBUH) brought the entire Muslim nation towards truth and righteousness by way of his own example. The Muslim nation then ruled the entire world for 700 years but as soon as the royal system of kingdoms was established, the poor became poorer and the rich became richer.”

Referring to a visit by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to the United States earlier this year, Imran said it was embarrassing for Pakistan to see its PM treated [with lack of dignity] at US airports.

“We are on crossroads today, on one end it’s disrespect and on the other, it’s dignity.”

Pointing to the foreign debt situation, he said the country is approaching a disaster. “We don’t have money to pay back loans and we’re taking loans to pay back loans.”

Pakistan has the highest number of out-of-school children after Nigeria, he noted.

Lamenting the state of healthcare in the country, Imran recounted his late mother’s battle with cancer and how it spurred him to build Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital.

“When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I found out for the first time that Pakistan did not have treatment for cancer,” he said, as he recalled how the tragedy changed his life forever.

It was then that I learned, there were two [divisions] in our society: the rich, who could afford to travel abroad for expensive treatment, and the poor, who watched their loved ones die helpless, he narrated.