Daily Times

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday alleged that Imran Khan wanted the head of every institution to act like former NAB chairman Javed Iqbal, and dared him to name the “agencies and their officials” who were involved in politics and had given him the guarantee that the incumbent chief election commissioner would toe his line.

“Either point out the persons and agencies who have given you (Imran) a briefing about the corruption of PML-N and PPP or stop this drama once and for all if you lack the courage,” the minister said while addressing a news conference.

The minister said Imran Khan, while addressing a seminar the other day, had claimed that he was briefed about the opposition leaders’ corruption by the “agencies” and the incumbent chief election commissioner (CEC) was appointed by him on their guarantee.

“Which guarantee was given to him (Imran) for the CEC? Which agency had given him the guarantee? And why he needed the guarantee at all?” she questioned.

The minister asked whether he wanted the assurance that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would not be declared a foreign-aided party and he himself as a “foreign agent” under that guarantee. She said Imran Khan had made a claim that he received reports from the “agencies” about the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Whether he himself had sought the reports from the agencies, she wondered, advising the PTI chairman to better stop churning out lies.

Marriyum alleged that Imran Khan was a “fascist who wants to impose fascism on the entire country”. He desired that persons like Javed Iqbal should head all the state institutions, including the Election Commission of Pakistan, Federal Investigation Agency, National Accountability Bureau and others. She said,”Imran Khan is a conspirator and has the only expertise as how to hatch a conspiracy against Pakistan.” He was the root-cause of all the problems being faced by the country, she added. The minister said during his so-called 22 years long political struggle, Imran Khan had always tried to pose himself as an “angel” and the others as “thieves” while giving an “Islamic touch”.

“Lies, drama and hypocrisy” were the hallmarks of his politics, she added.

Marriyum regretted that Imran Khan had refused to appear before the FIA in connection with the prohibited funding. “He said that he would not give any answer to the FIA about the prohibited funding. Whether it is the court, the opposition or the media, he has refused to answer to anybody about his wrongdoings.” She said Imran Khan was not a “sacred cow” and would have to face the law. If three times prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz had presented themselves for accountability, then Imran Khan could not escape from the long arm of law.

She said though false cases were lodged against Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, and the fact was later admitted by Judge Arshad Malik, but they appeared before the courts.

Nawaz Sharif, she added, presented himself for accountability by writing a letter to the top court (for formation of a commission to investigate the Panama Papers issue) as he knew that he had not committed the corruption of even a single dime. Marriyum said Imran Khan used all state institutions to victimize Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif. He submitted false evidence against the PML-N leadership to the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom and also provided the same material to foreign journalist David Rose, but could not succeed in his designs.

NAB failed to produce even a single evidence in courts to prove corruption of the PML-N leadership, she added.

She said Imran Khan set up an asset recovery unit in the Prime Minister’s Office with his “tout” Shahzad Akbar as its head for victimizing the political opponents. He (Imran) should be ashamed of himself as he had made a mockery of the accountability process.