Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique and Minister for Railways Saturday termed Panama Papers a "foreign-sponsored conspiracy" to target a nuclear Pakistan. "I am of the opinion that Panama Papers is a conspiracy sponsored from abroad and the target was Pakistan while other countries could also be the target of the conspirators," he told reporters without naming the conspirators.
He said those comparing Pakistan with Island are living in "fool's paradise," adding that the ongoing conflicting situation in the country will lead nobody to a victory, adding Pakistan is a nuclear power and there is a history of conspiracies hatched against the country.
"It seems all are the losers and nobody will be the winner in the internal fighting. Let me ask those who filed petition in the court [in Panama Papers case] as to whether they succeeded in unearthing any corruption against anybody...but the only thing they did was to distort the image of politicians," he said, adding that it also led to rise in political temperature and a total chaos in the country.
"Let us do politics on the basis of performance, instead of levelling basis allegations," he asked the opponents, adding the politicians are engaged in pulling one another's legs, which is serving the interests of enemies of the country who do not want a strong Pakistan. He said that the politics of allegations is not serving the interests of the country. Voicing concerns over the report of joint investigation team (JIT), he said that the legal team of the party is examining its findings and will present their stance before the Supreme Court.
He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wants to take the country forward and alleged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for creating hurdles in his way. "We are ready to fight legal and political war but it will benefit no one," he said, adding that the government is focusing on development but the opponents are dragging Pakistan backwards.
He said that a lot of time has already been wasted through levelling "baseless" allegations of rigging soon after the 2013 general election and sit-ins, adding if the situation remains the same till 2018; it would create problems for the voters as well. "The narrative of declaring one another a thief and a corrupt person is being built before the 2018 general election instead of focusing on the real issues", he added.
About social media users, he said that the educated people are using the social media in a wrong way to just criticise the government instead of using it in a positive manner. He said that some people think that only politicians are the thieves.