ISLAMABAD: In light of Panama leaks, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday urged the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) and the Election Commission of Pakistan to take action against the ruling Sharif family.
Addressing a press conference Imran Khan said that investigation has already been held in France, New Zealand, Iceland and other countries after Panama Papers revelations of world’s ruling elite’s undeclared and hidden assets and business. Answering his own question how did this money go to England, Khan said Ishaq Dar has admitted he did money laundering for Nawaz Sharif. “Our PM says he lives in his mother’s house and he names his properties in his children’s names who now have to lie,” said Imran Khan.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif laundered money out of country which he was not declaring. The PTI chief said the revelations under Panama papers were not a conspiracy against Pakistan but the tax evaders were exposed. “I have been raising my voice for the last 20 years on this issue and I still say this is just one firm which has been revealed in the papers. I am sure there are many more,” said Imran. He termed it a defining moment for the country and urged the people to ask those who take their money out of the country, how could they invite foreigners to invest in Pakistan. “If Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and France can start investigation into it then why can’t we?” he asked.
“Just when Hussain Nawaz realised their secret companies were about to be surfaced, he appeared on a TV show and owned all these companies,” he maintained. Imran said the Sharif family was unable to explain how they shifted such huge funds out of the country. The PTI chief also claimed that daily corruption of Rs 12 billion in Pakistan was done when the PM paid no taxes, could not declare assets, has offshore companies. If NAB wanted to retain credibility, it should open up investigations against Nawaz. If it cannot do so then it should shut down, said Khan.
Imran Khan accused Nawaz Sharif and his family of drawing funds from mega projects like metro train and shifting them to overseas destinations through unlawful modes of transfer. He said Nawaz Sharif’s name has come up in an international leak along with individuals from other countries. “I am confident that those from other countries will be taken to task and they will also step down from their positions,” he said, adding, unfortunately no such action would be seen here.
He said Mariam Nawaz had categorically denied having any assets abroad, while on the contrary her brother Hussain Nawaz went on record to say that she owns two overseas companies. “I ask Nawaz Sharif where his children got billions of rupees from,” he said, adding that all of his assets and money are in Pakistan.
