Not even a 'Trump letter' can save Nawaz from Panamagate probe, Imran says

PTI chief says conversation with the US president-elect wouldn't save the premier from the inquiry


News Desk December 01, 2016
PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said on Thursday that not even a conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump could 'save' the premier from the Panamagate probe.

The PTI chairman tweeted, "Good news is Trump spoke to Nawaz Sharif. Bad news for NS is this won't save him from Panama scandal - not even if a Trump letter arrived!"



Imran remarked about a "Trump letter," referring to the previous letter of a Qatari prince which the premier presented in the Supreme Court.

PTI expects ‘happy ending’ of Panamagate case soon

On Wednesday, the premier called Trump to felicitate him for becoming the 46th president of the United States after the November elections. The President-elect also told the premier “you are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way.”

Trump was all praise for Pakistani people as he said it was an amazing country with tremendous opportunities with “most intelligent people.”

On November 15, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz submitted documentary evidence on the legitimacy of their assets before the top court, claiming a Qatari prince paid for their London apartment.

'People made to pay for rulers' corruption'

Meanwhile, Imran said people were made to pay the price of the rulers' corruption.

"Petroleum and diesel have once again made expensive for the masses while the rulers have involved in massive money laundering," Imran told reporters outside his Bani Gala residence. "With the rising inflation, the poor is being burdened with more taxes as the powerful reap benefit from the situation."

Imran went on to add that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar owned property worth billions of rupees in Emirates Hill. "How will Nawaz Sharif ask him to bring back this money when he has his own, undisclosed money abroad," he questioned.

Now the Sharif family has forged a trust deed to justify their ownership of another offshore company, he added. "The Sharifs produced one fraudulent trust deed after the other and lied about their documents."

PTI denies receiving money from ‘prohibited source’

PTI chairman reiterated that the Sharif family was involved in tax evasion and tax theft and were living lavish lives spending money they could not explain sources of.

"If the premier were true in his stance, he would not produce several documents but he has not been able to provide a money trail of the Mayfair flats in London," he added.

Concluding, Imran said more revelations were expected into the case, saying Pakistanis should think of it as a decisive moment for the country.

On November 3, the premier denied holding offshore companies in a written response to the Supreme Court on Panamagate petitions. In his reply, the PM said he had declared all his assets in 2013, hence was not liable for disqualification under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

The Panama Papers on April 3 revealed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s three children were among dozens of powerful people who own offshore companies in international tax havens. The revelations had whipped up a storm with political parties calling for the Sharif family’s accountability.

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