M RAFIQUE GORAYA

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has called upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down to pave the way for a fair and transparent investigation into what he said four crimes allegedly committed by him i.e. corruption, tax evasion, money laundering and hiding of assets, by a high power commission under the Chief Justice of Pakistan. He further said that would hopefully this will be a unanimous demand of the joint meeting of the opposition parties scheduled for May 2 (today) in connection with the inquiry of the Panama leak papers.

“Nawaz Sharif has lost the moral authority to remain in power any longer,” Imran Khan said while addressing a highly-charged PTI rally organized at the Charring Cross in Lahore, here on Sunday evening

He said that accountability needs to be done of the PM first not of the 200 others named in the Panama Leaks. “Allegations against the Prime Minister have proved in the Panama Leaks, and I will not step back from the promises made to make Nawaz Sharif accountable,” Khan said.

He said: “I have been struggling for the past 20 years to get the country rid of the corruption and mal-practices as no nation can progress where there is no rule of law, fair play, justice and moral values and vast gap between rich and the poor.”

Khan advised his workers to be ready as he can give them a call to organize sit-in outside the PM’s residence at Rewind after rallies in other cities. “This is the last chance for the nation to put the country on the track of progress and prosperity, builds its institutions like NAB, FIA, and police strong and independent,” he added.

Khan said that Nawaz was doing business in the country and if it was proved that he was involved in corruption then he would have to go to jail not home.

He said “Nawz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif spent Rs 11 billion to develop their Raiwind estate’s roads, laying infrastructure and other facilities which skyrocketed the value of their vast estate.”

“2700 policemen have been deployed at the Raiwind estate to protect Sharif family at the expense of the poor people. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has set up six camp offices being operated on the tax paid by the public,” he alleged.

He stated that a rally will be organised in Faislabad next Sunday as this was the decisive time for Pakistan to end corruption, make the rulers accountable to the electorate, and change priorities of the government.

He said that PM Nawaz took on-board his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif to support him in the Panama Leaks investigation. “PM s cheeks turn red whenever he is asked of accountability”, and inquired how can a country prosper if its leaders are corrupt. It is quite easy to make money while being part of the government,” he remarked.

Khan criticised federal ministers belonging to PML-N. While referring to Federal Minister Khawaja Asif, he inquired: “who will cater to the Rs 500 billion corruption done in the WAPDA? Whether nations develop through the construction of roads or underpasses? Nations are made through justice and equality.” He said PML-N workers will also have to answer before Allah Almighty.

Regarding International Workers Day, PTI Chairman said that Pakistan faces huge levels of poverty at present and in the ‘New Pakistan’ the workers will be given rights based on international agreements. He pointed out that 1.5 million lost their jobs in two years.