‘PML-N’s property could come up from Broadsheet scandal'

Sheikh Rashid says Broadsheet will prove to be 'Panama-2 of Pakistan'

ISLAMABAD:

Responding to the opposition's criticism over the Broadsheet scandal and the appointment of Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat as head of the inquiry committee, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Friday said that the scandal would prove to be "Panama-2 of Pakistan" in next two to three month.

Addressing a press conference at a local hotel in Karachi, he said $100 million worth property of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) could come up from the scandal.

"If you are waiting for Justice (retd) Qayyum to replace Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat [to investigate the scandal] then you are making a mistake. That is not going to happen," he added.

Read more: Ex-SC judge Azmat Saeed to head Broadsheet Inquiry

The minister also said that the people had known the reality of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and its motives which were apparent from its protest in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He said that at a time when the PDM, an alliance of 11 opposition parties, was protesting, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was celebrating Umerkot by-polls victory.

He praised Prime Minister Imran Khan's "bold step" of asking for live coverage of foreign funding case, saying that the premier fought the case of Kashmir at the United Nations platform and named Modi as Hitler.

"Whatever Imran Khan did for Kashmir cause, Maulana Fazlur Rehman had not done even 16 per cent of it," he added.

The federal minister said that the progress of Karachi was objective of everyone and hoped that the Sindh government would come forward to instal 10,000 CCTV cameras in the metropolis for ensuring the safety of the port city.

He said that the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), Federal Investigate Agency (FIA) and management of different airports would be improved.

Replying to a question, Sheikh Rashid said that international powerful elements were trying to harm Pakistan and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding that anti-Pakistan elements did not want to see peace in the country.

Replying to another question, he said that 88-90 per cent fencing on Pak-Afghan border had been completed and 30-40 per cent on Pak-Iran border as well while remaining work would be completed by the end of the current year.

He also appreciated the Pakistan Army, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Rangers and other law enforcement agencies' performance for their efforts in improving law and order situation in the country.

Answering a query regarding the new administration in the United States under President Joe Biden, he said that it seemed to be better for the Muslim countries.

Rashid, replying to another question on oil smuggling, said that he had directed Pakistan Rangers, Coast Guards, and other organisations to check and control it.

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