Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan once again maintained on Sunday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had lost the moral authority to rule the country and that he will have to go to jail if proved guilty in the Panama scandal.

“If proven guilty, the prime minister won’t go home but he will go to jail,” he told a big political rally on Mall Road as part of party’s recently launched countrywide campaign against corruption.

Imran said that all opposition parties will demand the prime minister to constitute a commission under the chief justice of Pakistan at a joint meeting being held on Monday (today). “First of all, you will be held accountable, because you are the prime minister. We have framed our own terms of references (ToRs) for inquiry into Panama leaks but we will take opposition onboard first,” he said, and reiterated that an independent commission under the chairmanship of chief justice of Pakistan should investigate the matter.

Imran Khan also criticised some federal ministers belonging to PML-N. Referring to Khawaja Asif, he asked, “Who will cater to Rs 500 billion corruption done in WAPDA?”

Criticising the Sharif’s family, Imran said that each member of the family is issuing contradictory statements. He said instead of clarifying his position, Nawaz Sharif rushed to Mansehra to inaugurate the same gas pipeline for the fourth time.

In his hour-long speech, Imran underscored that all those named in the Panama leaks must be tried but the accountability process should start from the prime minister. He offered himself for accountability next to the prime minister, demanding that Nawaz Sharif must declare his assets as he has done.

Though Imran Khan abstained from announcing the date of march on Raiwind, he did not overrule the possibility, as he repeatedly asked the participants if they were ready to come along him in march on premier’s residence. He pledged not to abandon his campaign against corruption and corrupt rulers even if people do not come along. He announced that the next rally will be held in Faisalabad on coming Sunday.

Accusing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of corruption, tax evasion, money laundering and deceiving the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Imran said the ruling party was terming the accountability as threat to democracy. “Accountability strengthens democracy and institutions, not weakens those,” he maintained.

Talking about the May Day, the PTI chief said the society had forgotten the labourers. He said 1.5 million people lost jobs in last two years. “I will not allow the country to be looted in the name of privatisation. Our government will give workers rights according to the international standards,” he said.

Imran said corruption was like a termite which was eating up the country. He said that 2.2 million people in the country are unemployed. He claimed that the price of harvested wheat has been fixed at Rs 1300 per 40kg but the poor farmers were getting Rs 1000 to 1100.

The PTI chief said that the whole nation turns corrupt when their leader is a corrupt. “How a country, rich with natural resources, can develop if its ruler is corrupt?” he asked.

Khan said he has closely observed the Western society. “People in the West have extraordinary expectations from their leaders. British Prime Minister David Cameron was scrutinised by parliament after he was named in Panama leaks. American presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton had to resign as they were found involved in immoral activities,” he said, and added that it was a decisive time for Pakistan. “Prime minister will have to answer the allegations against him as this was a democratic setup, not monarchy,” he said.

Imran said that Rs 11 billion were spent on the construction of Raiwind Estate, adding that six camp offices of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were being operated by the taxes paid by the poor people. He said 2,700 policemen are deployed in Jati Umra for security of the Sharif family. “Pakistan was achieved to be ruled by the corrupt and the dishonest. Pakistan needs leaders who could lead by example,” he maintained.