ISLAMABAD: In a first-of-its-kind self-styled ‘address to the nation’, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to quit after names of his family members, according to the documents released by Panama Papers last week, were listed among those involved in the controversial offshore business.
“The prime minister has lost his authority over moral and ethical grounds to rule this country,” Imran told the nation live from his Bani Gala residence. “He has been found involved in money laundering, tax evasion, concealing of assets from the Election Commission of Pakistan and lying to the people of Pakistan. He has lost moral authority to even collect taxes from the people … so he must step down,” he demanded, and added, “Two offshore accounts owned by the prime minister himself have been now unearthed by the Stolen Asset Recovery (STAR), a World Bank and UN joint initiative. He is liable to be even imprisoned over the serious allegations leveled against him.”
The PTI chief also demanded the government to constitute a powerful judicial commission headed by none other than chief justice of Pakistan himself. “Nawaz Sharif has announced a judicial commission led by a retired judge, who will never go against the rulers. We want a commission under the CJP. It should also include experts on white-collar crimes besides an audit firm that could follow the trail of the money to determine where it leads to,” he said, and added that the government has the time until April 24 – his party’s 20th foundation day – to take appropriate steps to ensure an independent, free and fair probe into the Panama leak.
“We will announce our further plan on April 24, when we will reveal what we are going to do next. Our last destination is the Raiwind Palace where I will take not only PTI followers, but all the Pakistanis. I want to tell all the institutions of the country that they are answerable only to Allah Almighty. This nation needs justice now. Act before the poor grab you from your collar,” he warned, and added, “It is my promise to my people that we will continue to protest until an independent commission is set up. We will march on Raiwind and it will only end at the resignation of Nawaz Sharif.”
Online ads: The PTI chairman urged the nation to take benefit of the ‘defining moment’ and rise against the corrupt rulers.
He also criticised the rulers for leveling baseless allegations against Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. “We did not lose any money of the hospital. All the amount was retrieved successfully,” he said.