News
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf strikes back against corruption charges* Minister terms allegations by Faisal Saleh Hayat baseless
* Rejects reports that he is buying multi-million dollar homeBy Tahir Niaz
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) legislator Faisal Saleh Hayat on Tuesday ended up issuing another challenge to each other on the credibility of corruption claims in rental power plants (RPPs).
Speaking amid slogans of “shame, shame” and desk-thumping by PPP legislators in the National Assembly, the water and power minister rejected claims made by Hayat about the alleged corruption in RPP deals.
“He is a liar, who leveled baseless corruption charges against me in my absence,” Ashraf said.
The minister said Hayat had earlier levelled similar allegations, but could not prove them at any forum.
Raja Pervez Ashraf also rejected media reports that claimed he was buying a multi-million dollar house in a foreign country with the help of corruption money. “I swear I have no property abroad,” he said. Ashraf also criticised media outlets that had carried the story, saying they were dragging the country to a dangerous position due to their irresponsible attitude.
Responding to Ashraf’s speech, Faisal Saleh Hayat said that Pervez Ashraf had issued a defamation notice against him. “Why doesn’t he take me to court if he (Pervez Ashraf) is so clean,” Faisal said. “I again challenge him in the House to let the courts decide who is speaking the truth,” he said.
In an earlier NA session, the PML-Q leader had said that he was willing to end his political career if he failed to prove that the federal minister was behind massive corruption in RPP deals.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk