Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said on Monday that former premier Nawaz Sharif was appealing to the ‘international establishment’ to save him from going to jail.

Addressing a press conference at his Bani Gala residence, he said Israeli and Indian lobbies were busy conspiring against Pakistan and Nawaz’s statement had merely helped the Indian stance.

“All Nawaz had to do was prove where his money is coming from. He couldn’t do so and instead started hurling attacks at national institutions,” said Imran.

Imran said that Nawaz should be put on the Exit Control List (ECL) as he might try to make a deal to escape the country. The PTI chairman said Nawaz had violated his oath as the prime minister, and should be proceeded against under Article 6 of the Constitution.

“He has hurt the national interest of the country,” Imran said.

Imran further said investigation should be carried out in Nawaz’s sons’ businesses in India. He also demanded that Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif and PM Shahid Khaqan should resign from their offices.

“Is PML-N a political party? A party is formed on an ideological basis. Parties remove leaders when they prove to be a burden for them,” Imran said, giving examples of international leaders.

The PTI chief went on to ask whether the prime minister will do anything regarding the issue. “I know you people won’t because you are not a political party but a syndicate of corruption,” he said.

“Nawaz Sharif did not utter anything while he was the prime minister. Thats why I called Nawaz Sharif our Mir Jaffar. If he gets an NRO today, everything will be forgotten.” Imran added there was no doubt that attempts were being made to weaken the army. He said that entire nation was with the Pakistan army, and was praising peace efforts by the Rangers in Karachi.

He said the nation had changed and will take to the street if there were any conspiracies against it. He said that Nawaz Sharif was more concerned about his ill-gotten wealth and children, rather than the people.

Imran said he had criticised the army when mistakes were made in the past, but it was necessary to understand the conditions today as there were global conspiracies against the nation. “There is international conpiracy against Pakistan. See the situation in Muslim countries, none of them will come forward to rescue us.”

Published in Daily Times, May 15^th 2018.