Treasury handed to an absconder: Imran

Says national treasury has been handed over to an ‘absconder’

PESHAWAR:

PTI Chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan on Tuesday “regretted” that “unfortunately” neither the justice system nor the protectors of the country “stopped” PML-N leader Ishaq Dar from “taking oath as a senator”, which would now pave the way for him to become the next finance minister of the country, adding that the national treasury had been handed over to an “absconder”.

Dar took oath as a senator on Tuesday and will take charge of the finance ministry on Wednesday (today).

The PML-N leader – a senator-elect – had gone to the United Kingdom in October 2017 while he was standing trial in a corruption reference.

Last week, an accountability court had suspended an outstanding arrest warrant against him. He returned to the country on Monday to take charge of the finance ministry once again.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif nominated Dar as his government's finance minister just as Miftah Ismail announced his resignation from office.

Addressing Ulema and Mashaikh Convention at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, Imran took a dig at Dar saying the national treasury had been handed over to an “absconder”.

Speaking metaphorically, the PTI chief said that “the sheep had been entrusted to the wolf”.

“Unfortunately, neither the justice system nor those who claim to be the protectors of the country could stop Dar’s way [from taking oath as a senator]. God willing, your brother Imran Khan will block his way.”

Imran claimed that his government at the centre was ousted through a foreign conspiracy, adding that “thieves were imposed on the nation”.

He said the country which was “progressing-fast” fast after 17 years during the PTI government’s tenure was now on the verge of bankruptcy. “During the fourth year [of PTI government] our GDP was six per cent.”

Referring to PML-N and the PPP as the “two mafia families”, the former premier said they had “destroyed” the country and held them responsible for the sky-rocketing inflation.

“Billions of rupees of (PPP co-chairperson) Zardari and the Sharif family are stashed abroad. The government of ‘thieves’ had claimed to bring down the prices in five months [but] inflation is at a 50-year high in the country," he said.

“We sold oil at a lesser price though it was 115 dollars [per barrel] in the international market but today it is 90 dollars [per barrel] and still is being sold at Rs250 [per litre].”

Imran said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had submitted his “wrong” medical reports to flee from Pakistan.

He vowed to start haqiqi azadi march (real freedom movement) against the “government of the thieves” soon, saying people from across the country would participate in it. “Our struggle will continue till the last breath of my life.”

Censuring JUI-F chief, the PTI chief said Maulana Fazlur Rehman preached religion for his “personal gains” and that a “decree of choice can be taken from him in return for power”.

The PTI chairman noted that the price of palm oil in the international market was $1,000 to $1,700 but the commodity was being sold at a much higher price in the country.

He lamented that the prices of daily-use items like flour and rice were getting beyond the reach of a common man and added that fifty per cent of the mobile phone and automaker plants had been shut down.