PTI’s anti-graft drive begins on August 7

Imran says his party would support the opposition in parliament, but was going solo in the streets

ISLAMABAD: After the failure of the joint opposition to evolve a consensus on the issue of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation on the Panamagate scandal, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Wednesday its plan of launching a nationwide anti-corruption movement from August 7.

“It is clear that the government will not accept the opposition’s ToRs (Terms of Reference); therefore, we have decided to launch a countrywide street movement from August 7,” PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced after workers’ convention.

“They [the PM and his family] have laundered money, evaded taxes and concealed their assets and, therefore, are running away from investigations,” Imran said as he offered himself up for accountability for having an offshore company.

The decision came within 24 hours of the joint opposition’s announcement to reach out to the masses, if the government created hurdles in the passage of bills based on its ToRs. The PTI’s decision suggests the party has finally decided to go solo.

Asked about a grand opposition alliance, Imran said his party would support the opposition in parliament, but was going solo in the streets.

The PTI chairman said initially the focus of the moment would be to create awareness among the masses against corruption. “It will change later on but one thing is sure -- it will never stop,” he added.

Responding to a question, he said the PTI could call off its movement on one condition: the government constitutes an inquiry commission based on the ToRs formulated by the opposition.

Responding to another question, the PTI chairman said he could not give any timeframe of his party’s upcoming protest movement. “This time we are not alone because the entire opposition wants to hold the Sharif family accountable.”

The detailed plan of agitation is yet to be announced by the PTI though first step in this regard would be a protest demonstration in front of National Accountability Bureau’s [NAB] headquarters on July 25.

“Anywhere in the world where the Panama Papers’ controversy had surfaced, investigations were done. But why is NAB not investigating Nawaz Sharif,” Imran questioned. “If Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is not held accountable, no one could be investigated.”

The other reason Khan gave a call for protest was because NAB has given a clean chit to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in money laundering cases. “NAB should be shut down for promoting corruption,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2016.