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Panama verdict is the beginning of accountability in Pakistan: Imran
Khan says officials of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) heroes of the nationISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said that Friday's Supreme Court verdict on the Panama Papers case is the beginning of accountability in Pakistan and others too will be held accountable.
Addressing the media after the Supreme Court's verdict disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister, Khan, who was one of the three petitioners in the case, thanked the judiciary of Pakistan.
The PTI chief also paid tribute to the judges and referred to the Panama case Joint Investigation Team (JIT) members as heroes. "What the JIT did in 60 days could not have been done even in the West," he said.
“With this investigation, it is evident that we have the capability to put check corruption. The Supreme Court (SC) has proven that today." “Everyone will be held accountable now. This is the beginning,” said Imran.
"The Supreme Court’s decision has given hope to the people of Pakistan today,” proclaimed the PTI chairman. He added the heads of government institutions responsible for accountability, such as NAB and SECP, were hand in hand with Nawaz Sharif.
“They are not criminals, they are traitors,” said Imran while referring to PML-N lawmakers who had alleged misappropriation of funds at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital.
Khan thanked all those who stood by him in the last 21 years since the party was formed as well as those who have been struggling for justice for the past three years.
Khan announced to celebrate Youme Tashakur day tomorrow to mark their party’s alleged win against corrupt leaders of the country in Panama Leaks case.
He held officials of Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT) heroes of the nation and thanked the judiciary for standing up for the truth and the facts. He said that there a dacoits sitting in the assemblies as elected members of the people.
PTI chief said that during the tenure of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) no case was lodged against the premier and his family on purpose. A nation is not destroyed by bombarding but through corruption and illegal practices.
He urged the nation to safeguard its resources and hailed the investigations of JIT as a job so well done that developed countries of the first world could not match.
He said that this was one case and one step against corruption and many more "dacoits" are to be caught. Khan offered lawmakers to join PTI by saying that those who had supported the political party some 21 years ago would be welcomed back.
Statement of the opposition party’s chief came after the apex court disqualified the Prime Minister today for attempting to hide the facts during probe of Panama Leaks case.
He added that "I have no personal agenda against Nawaz Sharif; I have known his family for 40 years, he did not take anything of mine — he had done wrong to the people of this country and that was why we wanted him to be held accountable."
"Historically there have always been two kinds of laws prevailing in the country; one for the weak and poor and the other for the rich and powerful," he said that adding that he spent eight days in jail and all he saw there was poor people held on minor charges while the biggest thieves in the country sat in the assembly.
Khan asked: "I have a question for the nation today: are those poor people rotting in jail responsible for laundering money in this country, or are those crooks responsible for illegal practices who live in houses worth billions of rupees?"
"This country is standing at the brink of destruction; we have never taken more loans than we took in the past year, there is not enough money here to run this country - and yet, a US report says that millions of dollars are laundered and sent out of Pakistan each year," Khan said, while emphasising that Nawaz Sharif's disqualification is the first step towards saving the country.
"Today, for the first time the law has worked against a sitting PM who had a hold on all offices capable of holding him accountable," he said that. "It has been established that the chief of the NAB was involved in covering Nawaz Sharif's tracks. That man is responsible for keeping the country's assets safe."
"I hope and pray that this win brings the nation together and we are able to save Pakistan, and turn it into the country Allama Iqbal dreamed of and Quiad-e-Azam would be proud of," he said that asking the nation to continue the struggle for a better Pakistan.
Khan announced that the PTI will hold a Youmi Tashakkur (day of thanksgiving) gathering at Rawalpindi's Parade Ground on July 30 to celebrate Pakistan's victory against corruption.
He instructed party workers to not engage in any kind of actions causing chaos and wait for July 30 to celebrate the victory.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk
