Imran seeks accountability of Nawaz's properties, investments abroad

PTI chief wants Nawaz to be held accountable for the Rs500 million his sugar mills owe the TCP.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Thursday demanded that Prime Minister should explain how he built property in a posh area of London and make millions of dollars worth of investments in Europe.

Standing atop his container-cum-stage at D-Chowk on the 28^th day of their protest against a government that the PTI claims is fraud, Imran Khan claimed that Nawaz Sharif had made nearly $320 million worth of investments in Europe through Robert Hersch, against which there were no official record of receipts.

“I ask you Nawaz Sharif, where did you get this money from?”

The PTI chief further called for accountability for the Hyde Park property worth Rs800 million, owned by Nawaz through Flagship Investments under Hussain Nawaz.

“Nawaz will never be held accountable for this in the National Assembly, no one will raise this question since those in the opposition are also corrupt.”

Imran then pointed towards four sugar mills owned by the Sharif brothers and how their governance was used to further personal business interests. He claimed that according to a 2005 report by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan, the Sharif brothers had taken money to supply sugar. But this was never honoured and the sugar was never supplied. The PTI chief claimed this had helped create an artificial shortage and drove prices up from Rs45 per kilogramme to Rs65 kilogramme and the difference will now be pocketed by them.

“Nawaz owes TCP Rs510 million.”

Illustrating through an example of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) who ended his small business once he became the Caliph, Imran said doing business and politics side by side created conflict of interest. He claimed that in this regard they had passed a law in K-P which put an end to such conflict of interest.

“I went to court to prove allegations regarding Shaukat Khanum leveled by Khawaja Asif, which were false,” he said. “But those in power are afraid of going to court to disprove allegations on them because they know the truth will come out.”

The PTI chief further challenged the claim of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal that the protests had caused a loss of Rs1 trillion to the economy.

Imran said they had been peacefully demonstrating as per their right, a view endorsed by the Supreme Court. “What law are we breaking?”

The PTI chief further asked Iqbal, whome he called the ‘Aristotle’ of PML-N, to give detailed explanation of how their protest had caused the economy Rs1 trillion worth of loss.

“What are we doing that is causing the government so much discomfort?

Imran reiterated his vow to continue the protest demonstration till PM Nawaz stepped down as he came into power through rigged elections, adding that they will mark one month of protests on Saturday.