Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah on Wednesday said both he and his leader, Asif Zardari are clean.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Times, he said the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may go for early elections if a decision comes in his favour in the Panama case.

Shah also said, “The Pakistan People’s Party will take to the streets if the government did not pay attention to our four demands. If the Supreme Court gives immunity to Nawaz Sharif then it has to revisit its decision against Yousaf Raza Gilani.”

The opposition leader said that all eyes were on the Supreme Court in the Panama case and decision in this case would have a long-term impact on Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan and Judiciary. The Panama basket is loaded with lots of stuff but it looks empty when opened, shah said.

“In the past we had seen the courts decisions. Maybe we had some reservations so we did not move the court in the Panama case, but our point of view is very much clear in this case and it was part of our four demands as well. Nawaz was hiding behind the Qatari Prince’s letter and now he is seeking immunity. It means that they had done wrong. My point of view is clear that if the court gives immunity to Nawaz then why was the same not given to our Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani when he refused to write a letter to the Swiss authorities,” he lamented.

To a question about the revival of the PPP, he said Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took important decisions to lift the party up and people would see the change in Punjab.

He said, “The PPP’s movement would continue against the PML-N government because they are running the country like their kingdom and we don’t accept their kingdom.”

About the role of the establishment in politics, the opposition leader said the establishment is a reality in Pakistani politics, but it has no role in Faisal Saleh Hayat’s joining the PPP.

“He [Faisal] was a PPP worker and now he came back to us and you would see that in the future more leaders will join our party.”

Shah said further, “I’m not a corrupt man at all. Whether it is the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar or NAB they can open my file anytime, they should do this instead of blackmailing me. I never used my position for any wrongdoing if anyone has proof against me I am ready to face the inquiry. Even my leader Asif Ali Zardari was not corrupt at all. It was the media who made long stories of his corruption but nothing could be proved even he was jailed for many years. Media should raise the issues of masses, social issues like health and education instead of mudslinging on politicians,” he suggested.

To a question regarding his role as the Public Accounts Committee chairman, he said, “I am satisfied with the performance of PAC. Bureaucrats too have dignity and respect like us so we cannot snub them all the time. Billions of rupees have been recovered from various ministries and divisions while we take notice of public interest issues as well.”

“At the moment over Rs 4 trillion projects are underway in the country and our PSDP of current financial year is just Rs 800 billion. It means we cannot start new projects until we complete old ones.”