Demand for PM's resignation a conspiracy against CPEC: Fazl

In response, K-P spokesperson says JUI-F leader only aiming to get state institutions to probe the matter

PESHAWAR: Standing by the prime minister, Maulana Fazlur Rahman said on Wednesday that the post-Panama Papers report situation was a ploy to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“Whatever’s going on is not a fight against corruption, but against [Prime Minister] Nawaz Sharif and to destabilise the country,” the Jamiat UIema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief told reporters at the party’s secretariat in Peshawar.

He snubbed the criticism that the JUI-F had always supported Nawaz and his party.

“I am not supporting Sharif but protecting the interests of the country,” he added.

In fact, Fazl claimed, Sharif was angry with him for not coming out to his defence and remaining silent in the post-JIT report scenario.

The JUI-F chief said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were very different from each other, but the Panama Papers case had brought them closer.

“A matter [Panama Papers leak] that was deemed not even ‘worthy of hearing’ by the Supreme Court has now been turned into the biggest issue faced by the country,” Fazl observed.

 



“The PTI and other political parities demanding the resignation of the prime minister are only destabilising the country and sabotaging the CPEC,” he added.

Fazl maintained that there was an American lobby in Pakistan that was working against interests of the country and supporting the PTI and other parties demanding the prime minister’s ouster.

“The country is not ready for such adventures. Now that we are seeing some hope of an economic revival, they [rival parties] have started making efforts to uproot the system.”

Shah Farman

In response to Fazl’s press conference, K-P government spokesperson said Panama has nothing to do with CPEC rather it was “Maulana’s wish to let state institutions probe the issue”.

K-P minister for information Shah Farman stated that the provincial government was fully aware of the importance of the corridor since it stood against changes in the route, adding that sites for three industrial zones have been identified and a large number of security personnel deployed to protect them.

Talking about JIT report, Farman said that Fazl was on record when he stated Panama was not a political issue adding that he [Fazl] has wanted the issue to be investigated by state institutions.

“What is wrong if state institutions are doing their job,” Farman questioned Fazl, adding that Nawaz’s government was toppled over corruption allegations in early 90s.

Farman added that they were not fighting a particular party rather their fight was against corruption.

On this occasion, Farman also spoke about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, saying Imran has never been a public office holder nor was a parliamentarian when he bought the London flats, adding that it was good to know that the court had also demanded documentation for the Bani Gala residence.

Farman stated corrupt leaders obtained loans from international banks on tough terms ultimately making it harder for poor people paying taxes [indirectly] and overseas Pakistanis sending billions of rupees home.