Daily Times

LAHORE: Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Saturday rejected corruption allegations against him.

Addressing a press conference after appearing in an accountability court, Ashraf said that he was being accused of corruption because he gave people government jobs during his tenure. “The rulers have termed it a crime and have forced me to appear before accountability courts. I respect the courts. However, why am I the only one who is being treated thus? If I appear before courts, the same legal procedure should be applied to the current PM,” he said.

He said that the present government itself was involved in corruption. “The present government terminated the people I had recruited. So far, the National Accountability Bureau has been unable to present any evidence against me,” he said.

To a question, he said that the PPP had always respected courts. “The first elected prime minister of Pakistan Zulifqar Ali Bhutto was hanged on court orders. Former PM Benazir Bhutto ensured her presence before the courts. I also hope to get justice from courts,” he said.

He said that Pakistan’s borders were safe. “The army has rendered unprecedented sacrifices for the solidarity of the country.