Imran Khan’s pledge to voters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition leader and former cricket star who has set his hopes on becoming the country’s next prime minister unveiled his party’s “manifesto” yesterday ahead of this month’s parliamentary elections.

Imran Khan has promised10 million new jobs, better health and education facilities if he wins the July 25 vote. Titled “Road to New Pakistan”, the manifesto is similar to other ambitious past pledges by political parties that ended up unable to make good on them.

But Khan said he was only making commitments that he believed could be implemented – including tackling the widespread poverty by turning Pakistan into an Islamic welfare state.

“An easy solution to the problems that Pakistan is faced with does not exist,” he said.

Khan also criticised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif who was sentenced last week in absentia by an anti-graft tribunal to 10 years in prison over purchases of luxury apartments in London.

Sharif, who is in London with his ailing wife, has promised to return to Pakistan.

Saying Sharif had indulged in corruption, Khan promised to ensure justice for all and to improve the country’s ailing economy.

The same court that sentenced Sharif sentenced his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, to seven years in absentia in a case stemming from documents leaked from a Panama law firm. Her husband, Mohammad Safdar, was sentenced to a year in jail for providing false information. Safdar, arrested on Sunday, was sent to prison in Rawalpindi yesterday.

Analysts said Pakistan would likely have a coalition government after the elections, as no political party was expected to get a twothirds majority in parliament. Any party that gets a simple majority in the 351-seat house can form the government.