ZULFIQAR AHMAD

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Monday demanded National Accountability Bureau (NAB) comply with Supreme Court’s verdict and reopen the Hudaibiya Papers Mills case without any further delay.

Speaking at a presser, Imran Khan regretted that a disqualified prime minister is taking to the streets with a view to pressurising the institutions of accountability. Nawaz Sharif should explain at whose behest he is targeting Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Pakistan Army, he added.

He stated that in a landmark verdict last month, the five-member bench of the apex court unanimously disqualified Sharif from the office of country’s chief executive and ordered NAB to file a reference against the accused in an accountability court, but the anti-graft body is yet to comply with the apex court’s orders.

Criticizing Sharif’s plan of traveling to Lahore via GT Road from Islamabad, he said that Sharif is using taxpayers’ money to undermine the Supreme Court. He accused Sharif of paying people to take to the streets so that he can pressure NAB and later claim that people stand by him.

“Nawaz Sharif accused PTI of trying to derail democracy when PTI protested on the streets against him,” he recalled. “Isn’t he trying to do the same by using taxpayers’ money for personal gains?”

He alleged that Sharif family is trying to attack two institutions – Supreme Court and the military – that nation trusts the most.

“A criminal who was failed to produce money trail of his offshore assets, now claims that a conspiracy was hatched against him,” Khan alleged, and said Sharif was given ample opportunity to defend himself before two benches of the apex court as well as the joint investigation team (JIT), but he miserably failed to do so.

“What precedence this Sharif is going to set for the people when he himself does not accept the Supreme Court’s verdict? The jails of Pakistan are full of the poor but the rich and powerful refuse to bow down before the law,” he said.

“All the institutions have been destroyed by PML-N as they are saving their corruption. NAB should file a reference on Hudaibiya Papers Mills in court so that SC verdict can be implemented. They’re befooling the people by claiming that Nawaz Sharif fell prey to the UAE Iqama (work permit) whereas there are severe other allegations of corruption against the Sharif family. They submitted forged documents in the top court. They stole money from here and laundered it outside. Iqama is a way of money laundering. These people become Dubai citizens with Iqama and take the identity of the UAE while opening Swiss accounts,” said Khan.

Khan stated that PML-N should have dissociated itself from the Sharif family after Panama case verdict. Sharif’s corruption will bring PML-N to naught. “They are giving Rs 200 billion through their new ministers so they can win the election; but no matter what they do there is defeat written on the wall for them now,” he claimed.

To a question about the formation of a parliamentary body for holding a probe into estranged PTI MNA Ayesha Gulalai’s allegations, Khan said that he wants the issue to be investigated but the international standards regarding a probe against a parliamentarian should be followed.

He said the parliamentary committee consists of his opponents and it would be sheer injustice if elements that have a role in the matter should investigate it and give a ruling.

He also demanded justice for Ayesha Ahad, the purported wife Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, saying that she has been denied justice for the past seven years.

Applauding Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chairman Tahirul Qadri’s decision to return to Pakistan, Khan said it is a positive omen for the country, adding that PTI will welcome him. He also announced that PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi will meet Qadri on his return.

The PTI chairman also warned the PML-N leaders, saying they would ruin themselves if they do not distance themselves from their former boss [Nawaz Sharif] and his family.

“The PML-N has a golden chance to distance itself from Nawaz Sharif and his corrupt family,” he maintained.

When asked about Gulalai’s allegations of corruption in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government, Khan said he would not comment on that.