Rashid accuses PM of receiving $300 million in motorway kickbacks

Fails to support claim with evidence

ISLAMABAD: Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid has opened a Pandora’s Box in the Supreme Court, alleging that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had received $300 million in kickbacks from foreign investors during the construction of motorways in 1992-1993.

Rashid spoke in the apex court after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s lawyer Naeem Bukhari completed his arguments. His arguments were more of a generic talk then pleading the case in a proper way. He talked and shared a few revelations in his quintessential style that made judges smile and sent roars of laughter in a jam-packed hall of the court.



he said, sending an air of laughter among curious audience.

“About 70.09 million people daily watch us in the evening on television while nation is looking towards you,” he added.

Before sharing his claim of the kickbacks, Rashid said he was one of the few people who went inside Khana Kaba and even offered prayers on its rooftop, furnishing his claim under oath.

The AML chief stated that he was made information minister four times and was present in several meetings with a German agent of the PM, Robert Hersh, who used to come to Pakistan and hold meetings with the high-ups and offered $300 million as a commission.



When the judges asked him to produce documentary evidence to substantiate his claim, Rashid failed to provide any and stated that his statement should be treated as evidence just as the government was banking on the Qatri prince’s letter (which too has no legal value).

Justice Azmat Saeed then chipped in and directed Rashid to come to the London flats issue which is under discussion. He then commented that this case seemed heading towards a graveyard (dead-end) as the Qatari Prince’s father was already dead and so was the PM’s father.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan was sitting in the court along with his close aides -- Jahangir Khan Tareen, Shireen Mazari, Aleem Khan and others. While from the government side, State Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was also sitting along with Daniyal Aziz, Talal Chaudhry, Maiza Hameed and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry among the audience.



Every time the judges would ask or counter the arguments of the PTI’s lawyer, Khan would be seen rising from his seat and going closer to the counsel for the PTI and then get back to sit with Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq with whom he kept whispering during the hearing.

Meanwhile, the chief justice snubbed a lawyer who was mumbling in the front rows and complaining about less number of seats in the hall as “my legs are aching”.

The chief justice advised him to leave the hall as the seating arrangement could not be made for everyone.

Right after the hearing was adjourned, the members of the PTI and the ministers from the government side took to the podium with expectant camerapersons ready for live coverage. Journalists showed Imran Khan towards the podium but he resisted and left the court premises.

Another such gathering was also held outside the Supreme Court gate. There many journalists were seen taking comments from the members of the PTI and the government side with their smart phones and frantically making videos.

Some aspirants were also seen taking selfies with politicians or handing them applications of requests, apparently to get some personal favours.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2016.