PM Imran told to step down over ECP report

Shehbaz calls it ‘damming indictment’ of PM, Bilawal says it also exposes PTI’s ‘hypocrisy’

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition parties on Wednesday demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation over the findings of an report prepared by the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) scrutiny committee that unearthed a day earlier that the PTI had concealed several accounts and around Rs310 million between 2008 and 2013 from the electoral body.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif termed the report a "damning indictment" of PM Imran.

"PTI has been running away from foreign funding case for last 7 years and now we know why. The facade of 'Sadiq aur Ameen' [honest and righteous] has been shredded into pieces," the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly tweeted.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also fired a broadside at the premier.

Read more: ‘It’s easy to defend brand Imran Khan’, PM tells spokespersons

Referring to PM Imran, she tweeted that a person who accused others of stealing, was found himself to be a thief to the very core.

She claimed that the premier had accumulated wealth from others in the name of funds, used it for luxury and then repeatedly lied to hide his theft.

"Has there been a corrupt, false and conspiratorial ruler like Imran Khan in the history of Pakistan?" she added.

PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi demanded the resignation of the premier over the report.

He also said he wanted the Supreme Court to take notice of the matter.

Also read: Faith is something that cannot be forced: PM Imran Khan

Addressing a news conference along with other party leaders, Abbasi said a former prime minister was sent packing for not taking a paltry sum of money from a company.

He demanded that PM Imran should step down and appear before the people.

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari claimed the report had “exposed PM Imran’s hideous face tainted with corruption”.

In a statement, the PPP chief said PM Imran had taken an oath to tell the truth and despite that he hid the bank accounts of the PTI from the ECP.

“The selected prime minister, who has embezzled millions of rupees, boldly mocks others for corruption.”

Bilawal maintained that PM Imran had looted the nation under the guise of so-called anti-corruption campaign.

“Today, the devastated country's economy shows that the PTI government is ruthlessly plundering the national treasury.”

The PPP chairman added that the premier was forcibly proved to be an honest person and imposed on the nation. “Now it is time for accountability.”

In a tweet later in the day, the PPP chief also termed the report an indictment "not only of the PTI’s corruption but exposes its hypocrisy".

"Simultaneously tax records reveal Imran Khan's income increased more than 50 times since gaining power. Pakistan has become poorer but Imran is richer," he wrote.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said if the corruption of all politicians was put together, even then it could not be equal to that of PM Imran.

He was speaking to the media after meeting with Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal in Islamabad.

“The PTI has been exposed in the foreign funding case.

Today, it has been proven that Imran Khan's minions are a bunch of thieves and everyone knows how many accounts the PTI has hidden.”

The Maulana claimed that the culture of vulgar language in politics had been introduced by the PTI.

“Nobody’s faults should be either be exposed or covered. Private conversations should not be recorded.”