You’ve lost moral ground to stay in power, Imran tells PM
Asks Sharif brothers to reveal source of income
Imran Khan speaks during an interview at his residence in Islamabad November 16, 2011. PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said on Saturday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should step down because he has lost the moral ground to stay in power.
“In real democracies, the head of state follows the law,” Imran said while addressing a seminar on Panama leaks and Corruption organised by the PTI Professional Forum. “If a leader doesn’t uphold the law, the nation will never respect him.”
Panamagate inquiry: Imran warns of street agitation over ToRs
Promising to keep the issue of Panama leaks alive, the PTI chairman said the government wanted to dictate its own terms of reference (ToRs) for the Panamagate inquiry to save the Sharif family.
“The government knows that if accountability starts from the prime minister, he will be exposed. So, they want to formulate tailor-made ToRs,” he said. “We will first exercise our legal options, and if this doesn’t work, we will take to the streets.”
Calling for shutting down the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Imran alleged that the bureau was promoting and not eliminating corruption. “There are 13 cases pending against the premier which are not being pursued.”
Imran said a democratic government was based on moral authority, while dictatorships depended on the use of force. He said if nothing happened on the issue of Panama Papers, the country would have no future. “I cannot see my country being destroyed. I don’t want to become prime minister (of such a country). I want to fix this system.”
Panama leaks: ICIJ has not apologised to PM Nawaz, claims Imran
Criticising the Sharif brothers for having their pictures printed in advertisements, Imran said if they wanted publicity, they should not waste tax-payers’ money.
The Sharif brothers have become owners of 28 factories in just 12 years, he said, adding that they should enlighten the people how they had acquired so much wealth. “If they are unable to tell the source of their wealth, it can be assumed with certainty that they earned the money through corruption.”
Attendees at the seminar included senior PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Jehangir Tareen, Naeemul Haq and Shafqat Mahmood.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2016.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said on Saturday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should step down because he has lost the moral ground to stay in power.
“In real democracies, the head of state follows the law,” Imran said while addressing a seminar on Panama leaks and Corruption organised by the PTI Professional Forum. “If a leader doesn’t uphold the law, the nation will never respect him.”
Panamagate inquiry: Imran warns of street agitation over ToRs
Promising to keep the issue of Panama leaks alive, the PTI chairman said the government wanted to dictate its own terms of reference (ToRs) for the Panamagate inquiry to save the Sharif family.
“The government knows that if accountability starts from the prime minister, he will be exposed. So, they want to formulate tailor-made ToRs,” he said. “We will first exercise our legal options, and if this doesn’t work, we will take to the streets.”
Calling for shutting down the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Imran alleged that the bureau was promoting and not eliminating corruption. “There are 13 cases pending against the premier which are not being pursued.”
Imran said a democratic government was based on moral authority, while dictatorships depended on the use of force. He said if nothing happened on the issue of Panama Papers, the country would have no future. “I cannot see my country being destroyed. I don’t want to become prime minister (of such a country). I want to fix this system.”
Panama leaks: ICIJ has not apologised to PM Nawaz, claims Imran
Criticising the Sharif brothers for having their pictures printed in advertisements, Imran said if they wanted publicity, they should not waste tax-payers’ money.
The Sharif brothers have become owners of 28 factories in just 12 years, he said, adding that they should enlighten the people how they had acquired so much wealth. “If they are unable to tell the source of their wealth, it can be assumed with certainty that they earned the money through corruption.”
Attendees at the seminar included senior PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Jehangir Tareen, Naeemul Haq and Shafqat Mahmood.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2016.