RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday expressed displeasure over allegations of corruption against him in the Multan Metro Bus project and announced to take legal action against those hurling accusations at him.

“I want to speak freely since I had a lot on my mind. I had worked for the province like a labourer, hence, the allegations against me were derogatory,” he said while addressing a news conference here on Wednesday.

Shehbaz lashed out at a private TV channel over allegations of corruption, claiming a smear campaign against Punjab government has been launched.

He warned, “I give 48 hours to the channel to supply the proof or face legal action.” Even if the misappropriation of a single penny is proved against him, the public may hold him accountable, he said.

Shehbaz said that the records were consulted after the allegations and the consortium of companies working on the metro bus project also confirmed that they had not worked with the Chinese company (Capital Engineering) named by the media channel.

Referring to the content televised by the private TV channel, Shehbaz asked had it ever mentioned land mafia or those who have had their loans of Rs 256 billion waived off.

“Those sucking the life blood of the poor and getting their loans of billions of rupees waived off on political grounds is a mafia,” he said. “Plunder and loot continue to prevail and people deprived of their rights. Today, we have come to a point where Pakistan demands a fair system of justice and merit from us and it is imperative that we shall follow the principles of justice and merit and change the archaic system at every cost,” he added. He further said that elite dwelling in palaces has succumbed to greed and lust.

Answering a question, Shehbaz said that loans worth Rs 256 billion were waived off to gain political favors. He added that Jehangir Tareen also got his loans written off while there was loot and plunder in the Bank of Punjab. Billions of rupees corruption was reported in rental power projects apart from loot in EOBI and NICL scams, he said.

Referring to Imran Khan’s allegations, Shehbaz challenged him saying: “Khan Sahab, come forward and prove your allegations.” He recalled that upon Imran’s baseless allegations he moved a defamation suit but neither Imran nor his counsel is appearing before the court. He was of the view that defamation laws are very complicated and weak and called for amending the laws so that people can get prompt justice.

“Those who are hurling allegations at me will have to supply proof,” he said. “Imran, I urge you to look at yourself too; you simply level allegations on others and supply no proof,” he added.

Answering a question, he said that there was a proven case of loot and plunder against Asif Ali Zardari but he (Zardari) sought shelter under presidential immunity.

He was of the view that there must not be selective accountability. “Why the Rental Power Projects case was not probed? Is accountability limited to the Panama case?” he questioned.

In response to a query, Shehbaz said when Nawaz Sharif proposed his name for Prime Minister’s slot the whole party backed him up. However, he said he himself refused to assume the role of Prime Minister and asked Nawaz to let him continue as CM Punjab. “It was solely my decision to serve Punjab because I wanted to ensure the completion of a number of mega projects such as Orange Train and roads network,” he said. “I told Nawaz Sharif that I would like to continue in Punjab,” he added.

To another question, Shehbaz said Nawaz Sharif was not disqualified on the basis of allegations pertaining to the Panama Leaks scandal rather he was disqualified due to the issue pertaining to ‘Iqama’.

He further said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen had loans waived off and bought properties in London but was barely questioned. “Those leveling allegations of corruption against his government were the ones who have taken over lands worth billions of rupees,” he said.

Recounting his services, Shehbaz maintained that his government has managed to provide loans to hundreds of thousands of families helping them sustain their living. “We provided easy loans and cheap fertiliser to farmers,” he said. “Our government has also invested billions of rupees in power projects in a transparent manner to put an end to load-shedding for good,” he added.