Panama leaks controversy: Imran calls Nawaz ‘king of corruption’

Demands PM explain his family’s offshore holdings

BANNU: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the ‘king of corruption’ and demanded that he answer for his family’s assets in offshore holdings as revealed by the Panama Papers.

“Our people should vow to fight corruption and hold Nawaz Sharif, who is the king of corruption, accountable,” Imran said at a public gathering in Bannu. “Every time Nawaz came to power, he robbed the masses of billions through various means… he set up 28 factories during his rule, which made him and his family rich, but kept the masses poor.”

He asked the prime minister to answer the questions raised in the wake of Panama Papers leaks, as his offspring have been named to have offshore assets.

Perturbed over the delay in investigation by the commission, Imran urged the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to take action against the prime minister, saying it was the body’s duty to act against any sitting public servant involved in corruption.

“I wonder why NAB, despite all proof of their embezzlement and corruption, does not take immediate action against Nawaz and his family,” he said. “I want to remind the NAB chairman that it’s your responsibility to take action against Nawaz because you have the evidence and through accountability this matter can be resolved within weeks.”

The PTI chairman also told Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chairman Fazlur Rahman to change his party’s name.  “You (Fazlur Rahman) should rename your party as ‘corruption saving party’…the name of your party is derogatory towards Islam and Islamic scholars,” he said.

“[JUI-F chief] Maulana Fazlur Rehman has always stood with corrupt leaders,” he said.

Imran added that his party, if it came to power, would introduce an accountability system similar to the one it introduced in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa across the country.

K-P Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, who also spoke at the gathering, said “all corrupt leaders are standing in one row while Imran Khan and other honest politicians are opposing them.”

Stampede injures one

Owing to stampede in the rally, at least one person was injured after hundreds of participants tried to exit the venue at once. According to Express News, one of the two pillars of the entrance gate of the venue collapsed, resulting in the mishap.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2016.