Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday said they are ready to appear before the proposed commission for interrogation on loans as they are not afraid of inquiries.
"I think that the present PM doesn't know that every single penny of loan money is mentioned in the record," Abbasi said while addressing a press conference on Thursday.
Reacting to Prime Minister Imran Khan's post budget speech, the PML-N leader said that all of it is based on threats and abuses. Unfolding the development plans initiated during the PML-N's tenure, Abbasi said that Tarbela 4, Jhelum-Neelum project and several electricity projects were completed under the supervision of Nawaz Sharif. "War against terrorism was also courageously fought," he added.
The former PM expressed fear that debts will increase to Rs 10 trillion if current government runs for two more years. "Additional taxes will result in cutbacks in businesses," he opined.
The PML-N leader further said that unemployment in the country will only increase, given the PM's new budget. Inflation will be increased by a margin of 12 percent, he added.
Talking about the previous tenure, Abbasi said that Rs 9 trillion were allocated to the provinces whereas Rs 1 trillion was paid as the interest. "We ask PM Khan and his ministers to upload his tax return file on the internet," he asserted.
While responding to PM Khan's speech, Abbasi said Khan delivered his speech at midnight. Neither any president nor any PM has ever addressed at 12am before. "If he wanted to address the nation, he should have done that in the broad daylight. I even dare him to speak in the Assembly", he added.
The PML-N said that PM Khan is running the government - all the ministries, agencies and departments for which he has no concern. Regarding the minister's claim about his arrest, Abbasi said he is not afraid of being arrested. "We have rendered sacrifices for democracy in Musharraf's era and we will do it again," Abbasi vowed.
PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal said that Prime Minister Imran Khan's commission should first record the statement of Advisor to PM on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh who was minister during the PPP's tenure.