Pakistani politicians own property worth Rs700 billion in UAE: Imran Khan

PTI chief says PM Nawaz to blame if democracy is derailed because of current crisis

ISLAMABAD: If the country’s political system is damaged or democracy is derailed because of the current crisis, only Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be responsible, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Sunday.

He was addressing the National Press Club’s governing body at his Bani Gala residence in the federal capital.

Stressing the need for strengthening institutions for ensuring the stability of democratic institutions, he maintained that some individuals were dominating the system and political parties.

Insisting that after Panama Leaks, the prime minister had ‘no constitutional right’ to continue as the head of the government, Imran said that as long as Nawaz continued in office, the crisis would continue unabated.

The PTI chief said that corruption was considered to be a major issue in the wake of Panama Leaks, adding that politicians in both developed and developing countries damaged public interests.

He said that after the advent of social media, people were more aware of their political rights, adding that people also wanted to eradicate corruption for ensuring transparency in institutions.

According to Imran Khan, Pakistani politicians and bureaucrats owned property worth Rs700 billion in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Accusing incumbent government of weakening intuitions, he criticised the appointments of the chairman of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Deputy Governor Saeed Ahmed, adding that their roles in these institutions were inappropriate.

Stressing upon the need for keeping the working of such institutions within their domains, he said that Pemra, instead of continuing its role as a regulator, was working under the control of the government.

“We are committed to strengthening democratic institutions and democracy,” Imran said, adding that PTI was working as an institution instead of being controlled by a single individual.

Comparing Pakistan’s prime minister with his British counterpart David Cameron, the PTI chief insisted that the latter was facing “immense public pressure to relinquish his post” despite the fact that he had shares in his father’s offshore companies before assuming the office of the prime minister.

“PM Cameron’s only fault is to pay less in taxes, he did not abuse his powers,” Imran said, adding that the Pakistani prime minister indulged in corruption, tax evasion and money laundering.

Criticising the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Imran said that it was not an independent institution; instead it was working under government’s control. He added that the ECP should function within its constitutional domain.

According to him, there was no hope for holding free, fair and transparent elections under this election commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2016.