Terming the Panama Leaks proceedings in the Supreme Court as of inquisitorial nature on Saturday, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan said that PTI brought the matter before the apex court, which enjoys powers to probe the facts of the case.
During an informal chat with the Supreme Court reporters at his residence, Khan expressed that there are a lot of lacunas in the testimony of Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and his family in the Panama Leaks case. The PTI leaders including Shafqat Mehmood, Jehangir Khan Tareen, Naeemul Haq and Advocate Faisal Chaudhry were also present during the interaction with the media persons.
Khan said the PTI has politically succeeded and is fully confident that it will corroborate its stance with sustainable evidence, saying inaction on part of the government institutions forced the PTI to take to the streets. He further said that Panama Leaks case in the Supreme Court was filed against Mian Nawaz Sharif and his children but the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and all the government institutions are defending the case.
He said that such an anti-democratic behaviour is deteriorating all the institutions of Pakistan, saying instead of the PTI, it is the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) which had disclosed Panama Papers, so principally, Mian Nawaz Sharif and his family members should respond in the apex court without getting support of the government machinery.
Citing PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi's petition filed against him in the Supreme Court, Khan said that he has disclosed all of his assets, but the Federal Board of Revenue, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and the Punjab police are trying to take action against him. He categorically said what would be the FBR's credibility when the Board is making efforts to give a clean chit to Nawaz Sharif and his family member's names in the Panama Leaks.
Drawing flak on the FBR, Khan said that Board was responsible for the low tax to the GDP ratio in the country, adding it is all due to the FBR lacklustre performance to take action against big fish. Khan said that Mian Nawaz Sharif failed in fulfilling tall claims to get looted money back from former President Asif Ali Zardari. Khan said that it is a settled principle all around the world that opposition parties protest to pressure the government upon failure of the government institutions to deliver.
He plainly responded that the PTI is committed to proceeding the Panama Leaks case before the apex court, saying Hamid Khan, the former counsel in the case has established legal grounds, which another lawyer Naeem Bokhari will prove before the larger bench in the matter.
Pointing out the Qatari Prince letter in favour of Nawaz Sharif before the Supreme Court in Panama Leaks case, Khan said the letter is a big surprise to the nation. Khan said that he is willing to argue the case, but it is not possible due to some legal issues.
He said that Pakistan's public debt has increased from Rs 6 trillion to Rs 23 trillion during last years, showing mega corruption of the rulers in the country. He said corruption is the biggest issue of the country, which needs to be addressed through appointment of eligible persons at the top level purely on merit.
He said that Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar's affidavit is there in money laundering matter, but no institution like the FBR or the State Bank (SBP) of Pakistan is taking measures on the matter. He maintained that the PTI highlighted the Panama Leaks matter before the Court and its decision would be acceptable to the party, saying after the verdict of the Court, the PTI would go to the people and start preparations for the next general elections. He reiterated that the entire nation has realised what Nawaz Sharif is saying about Panama Leaks is not true.
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