KARACHI: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan had failed to disclose his Knightsbridge flat in London for many years.
While speaking to Express News anchor Javed Chaudhry on his show Kal Tak, the under fire chief minister said he would quit from politics if he’s proven wrong about Imran’s undeclared asset.
“He covered up a flat he owns in Knightsbridge, London, which is worth millions of pounds. Isn’t it a crime?” he asked.
“Imran is a liar who misleads the masses.”
Shahbaz, while visiting flood affected areas in Punjab, claimed that he had declared all of his assets when he returned from exile in 2007.
Now, the PMLN leader said, his assets were the people of Pakistan, and he was standing with them in this time of need.
“I have declared all my assets. Now he [Imran] should come forward and declare his assets,” said Shahbaz. “He owns a 700 canal palace in Bani Gala while his in-laws, the Goldsmiths, also have huge property.”
He added that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had stated all his assets and the record could be checked from the National Assembly.
Shahbaz refuted Imran’s claims that Athara Hazari dyke was not breached to save Ramazan Sugar Mill, allegedly owned by the Sharif Family.
“I don’t have any sugar mill in Jhang but one in Chiniot,” he said. “However, I can say that Imran’s confidant, Jahangir’s Tareen has many sugar mills which have been funded by international donors.”
He alleged that Tareen was a sugar baron of Pakistan.
Shahbaz was of the view that if Imran was really concerned about the masses, he should have come and stood with them rather than protesting and holding a sit-in in Islamabad.
Criticising the PTI chairman for levelling baseless allegations, the Punjab chief minister said the total cost of Lahore’s Metro Bus was not even Rs35 billion, let alone Rs70 billion.
“Get it audited by an international agency, and I will resign if proven wrong,” he said.
When asked why he came for ‘photo sessions’ with flood victims, Shahbaz said it was up to the masses to judge him and not anyone else.
“My God knows if I have come here for a photo session or for their service,” he said. “I won’t defend myself. People of my province know better.”
Responding to a question that why both Dr Tahirul Qadri and Imran were not among those affected by floods, he said both leaders hated the poor of this country.
“While Qadri would return to Canada, Imran will mix among those who wear clothes and perfumes from London and Paris,” he said. “I have repeatedly asked them to come here but they hate the poor’s faces and untidy clothes.”
Shahbaz added that even though it was late, the masses would forgive them if they still came to visit them.
“These people are villagers who work in the field. They become sweaty because of their hard work and their clothes get dirty,” he said. “Imran hates them but we love them.”
Dialogue with PTI, PAT
Answering a query if the incumbent government would resume dialogue with the protesters, Punjab chief minister said all points were agreed upon except the PM’s resignation, which, according to him, was without any justification.
“Why should the PM resign; because China was making the biggest investment in history under his tenure?” he said.
Preventive measures for floods
Asked about steps to mitigate floods, Shahbaz said the government was taking preventive measures but since floods of 2014 were deadliest in history, the existing infrastructure could not cope with it.
“There are technical flaws and I have already constituted a committee, which is working for preventive measures,” he said. “We have received much help from the NDMA and PDMA but there is need of further capacity building.”
No need of 'Naya Pakistan'
Taking a jibe at PTI’s slogan of ‘Naya Pakistan’, the PML-N leader said the masses did not want a ‘Naya Pakistan’ where their leaders do not visit affected areas. Instead, they sleep all day and join the crowd during the night for a musical celebration.
“We reject the ‘Naya Pakistan’ where his [Imran] children live in palaces of London, and leaders who were part of Musharraf regime have joined him.”
“Can he make a new Pakistan with such elements?”
Shahbaz also censured Imran for his lofty claims, saying he was no Gandhi, Che Guevera or Quaid-e-Azam.
“He has no ideology and has nothing in his hands,” he said.
COMMENTS (13)
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lessons on how to control the flood water through proper drainage system and lessons on how to make country corruption free is also on next seminar by C.M.
Imran khan once told us that he sold his flat to buy his home.
I think PTI should take up the challenge and ask NAB to investigate if Mr Imran Khan has flat in Knightsbridge in his own name or name of company that he controls
How any person could accumulate wealth in many countries and live like a king without ever working for a day in his working life? Many leaders are living of other people's money. I am not naming names if the shoe fits wear it.
Enough Mr. CM ... we are done with your gimmicks, lies, fraud and drama ...
Good, you have pointed out about IK? Means that IK information about NS and SS is correct. I think on ethical grounds you should accept the fact that now people don't you and your family as a ruler.
Sir, please accept the following facts as well: 1. You have failed to take preventive measures to control the losses from flood. 2. As per Commission report, you are responsible for model town as well. 3. Please don't look at IK, he is not a ruler, it you perhaps you forgot this. 4. Sir visit of China is cancelled due to mismanagement of NS government at federal level 5. Finally you are failed to deliver as per commitments made during election days.
This man has no credibility, this is the person who micro-managed every affair of Punjab from his office and then tell us that he did not know for hours about the massacre which took place at Model Town Lahore. The fact is that it was him who ordered that massacre where 14 unarmed political activists were gunned down and 81 injured by the Punjab police and then the police refused to register FIR on his instructions till the court ordered him to do so. These are the same brothers who attacked the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the 90s where the justices had to take shelter to save their lives, the Sharif brothers were part of that attack. Some one should ask both the brothers how much taxes they have paid on their movable and immovable properties. Oh Yeah, these brothers just love the poor and I like to know if they have built a school, college, hospitals or even orphanage for the poor masses. And above all their wives along with their kids went on to London for shopping and took their cook with them, how many people go to London for shopping and can afford to take servants with them, in Western Countries people clean their own houses, wash laundry cook for themselves and don't depend on servants. Forget about London, look around in Pakistan, how many families has 5-10 servants hanging around to do their chores. Shahbaz is a hypocrite and must be brought to answer in the court of law for that massacre, how long he could get away with out facing the laws of the land. They think they are above the law and the laws are made for the common people in Pakistan, there will be rude awakening for these so called leaders because time is coming that they will have to answer the nation for their misdeeds and the pain they have inflected on the them.
Now that they have been exposed; the Sharifs are trying to malign Khan & Qadri to confuse the public. People should remain steadfast to chase these robber-barons out of the government and their hands away from the public till. Didn't Shahbaz also claimed recently that he will quit politics if he is held responsible for the Model Town massacre????
What has Mr Shahbaz done, both the brothers at their age are wasting the countries time. Can they explain how they got so rich and if they care so much about the country why don't they donate their income and money they make from their business to the poor.
We should give the new generation to run the country as the government comes up with ideas without any thoughts and consequences.
They need to get off their high horse and tax the rich people, look at all the countries that got independence after Pakistan - now we borrow money of them, I am ashamed of this.
We should look at Singapore and New Zealand and make our country better. Stop spending money on Army - as a Nation we cant offered to have such a big army.
Pot calling the kettle black
Very informative article, I didn't know Imran Khan was the one who concealed assets. All this time I was under the impression that it's Sharifs who had laundered money and built assets abroad. Acting kay number pooray hain but actions don't match words.
Oh I see Mr CM. How you come up with such funny ideas.
As if Sharifs have declared each and every asset owned by the family. If Sharifs are so honest then instead of criticizing they should take the lead and publicly announce what they own refute IK's allegations of foreign assets and investments.