“I started this struggle 22 years ago, and today I have been given a chance to fulfill what I dreamed for the country” (Imran Khan, 2018)

Well-known by the moniker of “Blue-eyed Boy of Pakistan Cricket,” Imran Khan played cricket for a long period of time immediately after returning to his homeland, Pakistan, in 1976. He soon became a part of the heart of the national cricket team and was named the captain of the national team in 1982. It was quite interesting that soon after retiring from cricket, he got himself involved in politics and established the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). 

He kept on playing his role in politics in the coming years and supported General Pervez Musharraf during the military coup of 1999, which made him oppose the general during the presidential elections of 2007. PTI won successfully in the elections of 2013, winning 30 seats in the parliament and ranking second after the Pakistan Muslim League. Later, on 26th July, 2018, Imran Khan ended his cricket career and entered politics and came into power after winning up to 119 seats in the national parliament.

How Did Imran Khan Come to Power in the 2018 General Elections?

PTI published its manifesto on July 9, 2018, and some of its important slogans have been included therein, such as “Road to Naya (new) Pakistan.” Imran Khan promised to build an Islamic welfare state of “Riyasat-e-Madina.” Imran Khan came up with the slogan to ensure zero tolerance for corruption; independence for the National Accountability Bureau; judicial reforms; balance in relation to Balochistan, keeping in mind the views of the people of Balochistan; educational reforms through curriculum change; a budget of 20 percent for education; ten million jobs for young people; and five million houses. All the above points of the manifesto appeal to the young generation as well as the poor/middle-class segment of the society.

What Were the Main Promises of Imran Khan’s 2018 Election Campaign?

The political campaign run by Imran Khan in the year 2018 was tactically designed, with an emphasis on issues that would appeal to the citizens of Pakistan. The key point in his campaign was the firm anti-corruption agenda that he raised as being the main source of all the wrongs happening within the country. The focus of the campaign was on nationalism and sovereignty; he wanted a Pakistan that does not owe anything to any outside power.

Appeals for nationalism and pledges of sweeping economic reforms for economic revival, job creation, and poverty alleviation formed the essence of his campaign. Therefore, through the inclusion of these aspects in his campaign, Imran Khan attempted to win the hearts of diverse groups of people.

What Were the Major Governance Reforms Introduced by the PTI government?

“Good governance is the foundation of sustainable development.” (Kofi Annan)

Pakistan Citizen Portal

The Pakistan Citizen Portal is an integrated citizens’ grievance redressal system that was introduced by Imran Khan to link all government departments at both federal and provincial levels. This system acts as a medium through which complaints are carried to their relevant offices across Pakistan. The citizens are allowed to give feedback once the complaint has been solved by the officer. Feedback will be tied to the performance of the officer.

Civil Services........

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