Imran rejects committee formed to probe Qasim Bagh incident, vows justice for victims

Maryam Nawaz alleges that PTI is trying to wrest power by trampling over dead supporters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Saturday rejected the three-member committee constituted by the Punjab government to probe into Qasim Bagh tragedy that left seven people dead and promised that there would be justice. 

Addressing the sit-in at D-Chowk on Constitution Avenue, he said that “I have no confidence in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.”

“I promise to you all, come what may, we will get justice for those who have been killed.”

Refuting government’s accusation that PTI was responsible for Friday’s stampede at Qasim Bagh, Irman asked “who had locked the gates after the rally and why?”

He claimed that PTI cannot be held responsible for the incident as he asked why police stood idly by watching.  “I do not trust your inquiry report,” Imran said while addressing Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Imran also promised to provide the families of the victims compensation other than that which may be announced by the government.

The Punjab government had on Saturday formed a three-member committee to probe into the Qasim Bagh tragedy. Secretary for environment Iqbal Muhammad Chauhan, DIG Ali Amir and Special Secretary interior Dr Shoaib Akbar are the three members of the committee, which has been directed to present a report to the provincial chief minister in the next two to three days.

Don’t vote for those who do not declare their assets

The PTI chief said that “Go Nawaz Go slogan had been spreading in the country and become a voice against the system. You should not vote for any person who does not declare his assets in Naya Pakistan.”

While addressing the sit-in, Khan once again highlighted that both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari had teamed up to safeguard each other’s interests. “I do not have a single penny out of this country because I am not afraid of anything. I ask Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari why you don’t declare your assets?”

Imran said that unless heads of PPP and PML-N declare their assets, their party members would never do that and ultimately they would not be able to collect taxes.

Talking about foreign loans, he said that every Pakistani was under the debt of Rs 88,000 which used to be only Rs6,000 six years ago. “Where was this money spent because poverty has increased manifold.”

Pointing out flawed policies of the rulers, he said that said that government was getting loans for debt servicing, but on the other hand, rulers were getting rich and expanding their business empires.

“The rulers have no solution except taking loans from the world,” he added.

Presenting his three-point recipe to pull the nation out of the vicious cycle of debt, Imran said that income would need to be increased and for that tax collection would need to be enhanced with equitable taxation.

“We will not increase tax but collect from those who do not pay.”

The second option  was to control of corruption. For that, the prime minister and his cabinet members would have to declare their assets. Referring to electoral norms in the West, Imran said that “no one can contest elections unless they declare their assets, sources of income and pay their taxes.”

“Pakistan has lowest tax to GDP ratio in the world. Our tax to GDP ratio is merely eight per cent while it is 15 per cent in India.”

The third option was to bring in foreign investment. The PTI chief said that could only happen when the governance system is improved, there is justice, police plays its role and there is no corruption in the country. He added that once these things were ensured, overseas Pakistanis would bring in the most investments into Pakistan. He further challenged Nawaz to show what foreign investment the premier’s efforts over the past year have brought into the country.

Will disclose details of donations to Zardari

Responding to Zardari’s statement about source of finance for his nearly 60-day sit-in and rallies across the country, Imran said that people of Pakistan were giving donations to PTI which were funding the rallies.

“Asif Ali Zardari, come to my container and I will tell you the kind of people who are coming here to give donations.”

On metro bus project, Khan said that “this project was not needed and this money could have been spent on health, education, justice and on salaries of the police.”

PTI leaping to power upon dead supporters

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz claimed on Saturday that the PTI leadership had always failed when put under the test, before adding that the party was trying to wrest power by trampling over dead supporters.

In a series of tweets from her verified account on Saturday evening, Maryam said that the "Multan mishap was yet another exhibition of utilitarian philosophy of PTI leadership."

Every image of Multan jalsa victims reeks of criminal insensitivity& callousness. Never seen leaders as heartless as ones leading this herd.

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 11, 2014

Multan mishap was yet another exhibition of utilitarian philosophy of PTI leadership trying to leap to power trampling upon dead supporters!

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 11, 2014

Whenever put to test, PTI leadership failed the people.

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 11, 2014