Imran accuses PPP, PML-N of striking secret deal

PTI chief says this time around Pakistanis cannot be fooled by this politics of muk muka

ISLAMABAD: Hours after a high court granted bail to a PPP leader in Sindh on Wednesday, the PTI chief Imran Khan accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari of striking a secret deal to help each other in their alleged corruption.

“Today I have no doubt that PM Sharif, who is afraid of Panamagate’s pending judgment, has forged a deal with Zardari,” Imran told a press conference outside his Bani Gala residence.

The PTI chief claimed that under this deal Zardari and Sharjeel Memon have returned to Pakistan, while Dr Asim Hussain, Hamid Saeed Kazmi and model Ayyan have been released from jail despite pending corruption cases against them.

“This politics of muk muka [complicity] is planned under a deal. But this time around Pakistanis cannot be fooled,” he said. The PTI chief said he was forced to hold the press conference after the Sindh High Court granted bail to Dr Asim, who has been facing multi-billion rupee corruption charges.

Imran recalled a press conference held by Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan on September 12, 2016.

“In the press conference, Nisar had revealed that Zardari had offered to extend some favours to the PML-N in return of the release of supermodel Ayyan and Dr Asim,” he said.

He said the people of Pakistan would once again see replay of the traditional politics which, he said, both the PML-N and the PPP played in 2013 during the last general elections.

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He said Nawaz extended all out support to PPP during ‘corrupt regime of Zardari’ between 2008-2013, but as the last general elections drew nearer the PML-N adopted the role of opposition and made tall claims to hold Zardari accountable for his corruption.

“But as soon as the PML-N came to power, Sharif forgot about Zardari’s $60 million [alleged] graft,” he said, adding that both Zardari and Nawaz would continue to play friendly politics in coming days.

He said the PTI had staged a sit-in in 2014 against alleged rigging in the 2013 polls but at that time Sharif hosted a lavish meal for Zardari and they joined hands in the name of ‘saving democracy’.

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“They joined hands when I demanded free and fair investigations into 2013 general elections rigging. Now, Zardari is claiming that the PML-N won 2013 elections due to massive rigging in polls and that it was an election managed by ROs [returning officers].

“That is what I was saying 2014,” Imran added.

The PTI chief said a ‘corrupt prime minister’ had been destroying this country just to save his corruption. “Their deal will not go in favour of Pakistan. It will not serve any good to democracy in the country,” he said.

Imran alleged that both Zardari and Nawaz were also involved in money laundering.

“Both of them are money launderer. They took Pakistan’s money abroad. Their interests are the same. They will not harm each other’s mutual interest. They join hands whenever they feel the PTI will come to power and hold both of them accountable,” he said.

To a question, Imran said there is no question of entering any electoral alliance with the PPP in the presence of Zardari as its co-chairman. “The nation is awaiting outcome of the Panamagate case,” he added.