Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Saturday claimed that the party will bring back the money through which the Sharifs purchased Avenfield apartments in London, as British High Commissioner to Pakistan has assured Imran Khan of all-out support of his country in this regard.
"The money through which the Avenfield apartments were purchased [by Sharifs] belongs to the people of Pakistan [and] it's incumbent upon the government to bring back the money," PTI Central Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry told reporters outside the prime minister-designate Imran Khan's Banigala residence.
He said that the party urged British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew to help the government bring back the money. The British High Commissioner met Khan a few days ago to congratulate him on his party's victory in July 25 general election.
An accountability court last month convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law captain Muhammad Safdar (retd), in the Avenfield reference. The PTI spokesman said that the noose will also be tightened around people who have stashed national wealth in European and Gulf countries through illegal means, as envoys of the respective countries have assured their full support in this regard.
About relations with neighboring India, he said that the ties will not be personal. Former Prime Minister Sharif had always been accused by his opponents of having personal relations with India to bolster his alleged businesses in India. He said that Khan has no personal enmity, as whatever he is doing is doing for the sake of this country, adding whoever is found involved working against the interests of the country, the PTI will chase him/her at all costs.
About the formation of government, he said that process will be completed within two days. He said that the federal cabinet will be finalized after August 11.
He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce the official results of the election, followed by nominating the women who had applied for reserved seats from the platform of their respective parties.
He said that eight independent candidates, who emerged victorious on the National Assembly seats, have joined the PTI so far, while the party is optimistic to win the support of some more MNAs; hence having no issue to fulfil the numerical strength for a simple majority, as the PTI has support of 177 MNAs.