Pakistan

Panama leaks: ICIJ has not apologised to PM Nawaz, claims Imran

According to a statement issued by ICIJ, PM Nawaz's name appears in Panama Papers with reference to his children

News Desk April 28, 2016

according to a statement issued by icij pm nawaz 039 s name appears in panama papers with reference to his children photo afp

According to a statement issued by ICIJ, PM Nawaz's name appears in Panama Papers with reference to his children. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan stood against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's claim that the International Consortium for Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) had issued an apology for including the premier's name in Panama Papers.

Addressing the media on Thursday in Lahore, the PTI chief said neither did ICIJ apologise for including the prime minister's name in Panama Papers nor has it removed it yet.

Nawaz Sharif will have to leave, says Imran

Imran also took to Twitter where he posted a statement of ICIJ director Gerard Ryle, saying, "The lie about ICIJ retracting on Sharif offshore accounts and apologising also stands exposed in ICIJ statement," Imran tweeted.

The lie abt ICIJ retracting on Sharif offshore accts & apologising also stands exposed in ICIJ statement pic.twitter.com/YfmlKCVZay
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 28, 2016

However, while the statement clearly states that the ICIJ has not apologised to PM Nawaz, it also states that the premier's name has been mentioned in the papers with reference to his children only.

"As I understand from reading the report, it is claiming that ICIJ has issued an apology and withdrawn all mention of the PM being in the data. Let me be clear. The PM's name is in the data, in reference to his children," Ryle said.

The ICIJ had reportedly acknowledged that the inclusion of the PM Nawaz's name in Panama Papers was a ‘journalistic mistake’, following which the federal cabinet condemned on Wednesday ‘baseless allegations’ levelled against the premier.

Cabinet slams 'smear campaign' against PM

A recent clarification issued by the ICIJ provided the government an excellent opportunity to go on offensive.

The ICIJ, the ministers agreed, had clarified that the prime minster had nothing to do with offshore companies and the PM’s name was being maligned in a false propaganda campaign.

Further, Imran posted a series of tweets on the microblogging website, accusing the Sharif family for allegedly starting a propaganda campaign against political opponents using tax money.

"To hide their own corruption, Sharifs have launched a massive propaganda campaign against political opponents funded by taxpayer money," he said.

To hide their own corruption, Sharifs have launched a massive propaganda campaign against political opponents funded by taxpayer money. 1/3
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 28, 2016

2/3 Pak has one of the lowest Human Dev Index in S Asia but govt spending public money to detract from Sharifs off shore accts/properties
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 28, 2016

The PTI chairman further questioned the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for not taking action against the premier and his family for using public money in an attempt to clear their image on the media and in front of the world.

Imran Khan sees Panama Papers as second chance to oust PM

3/3 Why are state institutions like NAB not taking note of this brazen misuse of public money by govt to defend corruption of Sharif family?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 28, 2016

"The Sharifs need to realise this is Pakistan – a democracy, not a monarchy where they clan can rule with no accountability by the people," he tweeted.

Sharifs need to realise this is Pakistan - a democracy not a monarchy where the Sharif clan can rule with no accountability to the people.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 28, 2016

Why can't Sharif family use its own money - the billions stashed abroad - for their propaganda campaign instead of misusing public funds?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 28, 2016

The cricketer-turned-politician accused the premier of launching a smear campaign against the former’s charitable Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) in response to the accusations of acquiring illegal money in Panama leaks against the Sharif family.

Litany of lies by Sharifs & PMLN govt continue to get exposed. The lie targeting SKMT was exposed & the ppl of Pak condemned attack on SKMT
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 28, 2016

COMMENTS (10)

rehan | 8 years ago | Reply Imran Khan knows every thing in this world much better than any one else. It is about him and him and him all over again before it gets to some one else. He has such an ego problem and has till today never apologized for being so pro Taliban .

Imran Qadri | 8 years ago | Reply UK legally allows an offshore company to own assets/flats in UK. As long as tax heavens are offering options to rich people and their financial managers,they would continue to chose that option to 'legally' avoid taxes. If tax heavens are such a problem then world should root them out and close those options. Until then finger pointing should stop. Accusers should prove wrongdoing on proper forum i.e. court of law instead of giving worthless statements.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Imran Qadri | 8 years ago | Reply Sharif Juniors,by having and operating offshore companies have committed any wrongdoing.. Where does ICIJ say that? They are legally operating offshore companies according to local laws wherever they are registered. Onus is upon accuser to prove that wrongdoing have been committed. If past experience is anything to go by then Imran Khan is proving to be nothing but habitual accuser and lair.

Azi | 8 years ago | Reply It's not just a claim but a fact delivered to a talk show by the chief person from ICIJ in voice. So please stop trying to make it a claim only.

Ranjha | 8 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: "The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you shine on it, the more it contracts." Do you get it Mr. God Praise?

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: Your example about Iceland PM is wrong. In western laws and culture, wife is an equal partner whereas adult children are not. There are so many examples of western politicians in which adult children's behavior and crimes did not affect political career of their parents. Please don't mix oranges with apples.

NY | 8 years ago | Reply Khan Sahib, you are not up against a political party called PML(N). Instead, you are fighting against a mafia which has deeply rooted itself in this corrupt system ans will use all possible resources to get you off their backs.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply However, while the statement clearly states that the ICIJ has not apologised to PM Nawaz, it also states that the premier’s name has been mentioned in the papers with reference to his children only. The Prime Minister of Iceland had similar complaint since the offshore account was not in his but his wifes name.It is a matter of time when the next batch including the statements of accounts will be published, thus allowing the time for the account holders to come clean.. Rex Minor

Anon | 8 years ago | Reply Nobody was under any misconception that Nawaz's own name was in the leaks.... Everyone has been saying from day 1its about his kids... And they need to explain why the PMs kids... Who support him btw.... have wealth stashed away in offshore accounts. Especially given that these accusations were made with great detail in the 90s and the details all seem to have been corroborated! How is Nawazs name not being there a thing? Neither is putins or Cameron's... As NS so eloquently put it... Nobody doing shady deals puts money in their own name!

Saf | 8 years ago | Reply Seriously you have to be brain dead to think that Nawaz Sharif got nothing to do with these properties worth hundreds of millions of dollars and that they belong to his kids.

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