After opposition parties failed to reach any agreement to frame consensus terms of reference (ToRs) for holding probe into Panama leaks, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday announced launching a nation-wide, anti-corruption movement on August 7. "We will hold a protest in front of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) headquarters on July 25 in Islamabad and then initiate countrywide movement from August 7," Imran told reporters after a meeting of the party here.
Imran said that he was not struggling for the last 20 years to impose martial law but to strengthen democracy, adding if the military takes over, it will adversely affect our party most. "We have been struggling to strengthen democracy. If democracy in the country is derailed, it will be due to kinship of Nawaz Sharif, as he does not look like a democratic leader by any means," he added.
Leaked documents from the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama had showed the Prime Minister's three children - sons, Hassan and Hussain, and his daughter, Maryam Safdar, among other world leader owning, at least three offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands. The PTI chief said if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is not held accountable, no one could be investigated, adding all the countries have started probe into Panama controversy anywhere in the world.
"But why is NAB not investigating Nawaz Sharif...is the job of NAB is to clear the Nawaz and Co from their corruptions without holding any investigation, as this is what the government wants and is not interested in any kind of probe against the prime minister" he added. He said PTI would hold a protest rally outside NAB headquarters in Islamabad on July 25 as it has given clean chit to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in all the corruption charges against him, which is not acceptable.
Khan said that the protest against NAB was being carried out because the institution did not carry out investigation against the government even after three months of the surfacing of the Panama Papers. He questioned under which law the top anti-graft body has pardoned Ishaq Dar. "We will not accept any such law where poor and the rich are treated differently. The law should be equal for all whether rich or poor," he added.
The PTI chairman stated that the movement will gradually spread all over the country as we are not going to compromise on corruption as it has eroded the very foundation of this country. He said that the movement will be called-off if the government agrees to frame ToRs in consultation with opposition as this is the only option with the government. "Any delay in this regard will cost it dearly," he added.
He recalled that when Nawaz Sharif government was toppled by General Musharraf in 1999, people distributed sweet, and this time again people will take to the street to celebrate his departure as they have become fed up of him. Imran also announced that the party will start a fund raising campaign for the anti-government movement, adding all party members will be asked to contribute. "The PTI has 3 million members and each member will be required to contribute Rs 100 and that's enough," he added.