Criticizing the coalition government, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said that if the country defaults, it will not harm the interests of the “gang of thieves”.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Khan said that the “gang of thieves” had properties worth billions of dollars abroad, so they did not care about the country’s economic collapse.
He added that the US dollar would rise further and “if Pakistan defaults”, there would be no foreign investment.
The ousted prime minister said that a group of thieves is on us, adding that this group has been stealing national wealth for the past 30 years. He also said that they are laundering the looted money abroad through illegal methods including Handi and Hawalat.
A day earlier, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated that “the economy is moving in the right direction” and that “there will be no default”. He added that no more experiments could be done with the country’s economy as Pakistan had gone through its “darkest economic times” under the previous government.
Khan further said that when the Hudaybiya Paper Mills case came to light, people came to know how the Sharif family was laundering the looted money. Ishaq Dar, the “front man” of the Sharif family, recorded his statement under Section 164 of the CrPC and gave the details of the money laundering.
Default risk increases to 100%
The PTI chairman warned that Pakistan’s default risk has increased to 100 percent as 88 percent of local investors do not have faith in the current government.
Khan warned that as long as this government remains, economic instability will increase in the country. They will leave the country whenever they get a chance.
Referring to the alleged horse-trading in the Sindh House in the past, the PTI leader said the constitution suits them only when it benefits them, otherwise they have always flouted the law.
He urged the national security agencies to review the ongoing situation in the country.
He also accused the Election Commission of Pakistan and the establishment of supporting the Muslim League-N-led ruling coalition during the recent by-elections in the country.
Imran Khan said that Maryam Nawaz should reach home first, then the day of love was dry cleaned and now Sulaiman Shahbaz will be dry cleaned.
“We all know who gave them NRO-II,” Khan said and asked if the constitution allows for NRO-II.
PTI Chairman expressed fear that Muslim League (N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will not go to the polls.
“Injustice destroys nations”
Reacting to the return of Sulaiman Shehbaz, the former prime minister said: “Salman Shehbaz, the fugitive who is responsible for the corruption and money laundering of billions, has returned to Pakistan after being dry cleaned.”
Sharing a hadith on his Twitter handle, Khan wrote that if one wants to understand why Pakistan’s economy is now in shambles, only two incidents answer it.
He said 75-year-old Senator Azam Swati was tortured in custody, beaten up in front of his grandchildren, his house ransacked and sealed and several “false FIRs” filed against him. They are being dragged from one province to another. “Total violation of all laws and fundamental human rights” enshrined in the Constitution.
On the contrary, Salman Shahbaz, a fugitive responsible for billions of corruption and money laundering, has returned to Pakistan after being dry cleaned.
one prov to another under multiple false FIRs against him in total violation of all laws & basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution. In contrast an absconder responsible for billions in corruption & money laundering, Salman Shahbaz, is drycleaned & returns to Pak.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 11, 2022
ECP warned.
Addressing the new military leadership in the press, the former prime minister said: “The new government that has taken over recently should think of the country for God’s sake. The national security agencies should see that the country is with the country. What is happening.
He also emphasized that the nation and the army are not separate but go hand in hand.
Commenting on his disqualification in the Election Commission of Pakistan, the PTI leader said he would get more “humiliation” if the ECP disqualified him.
The Election Commission has no power to disqualify me. Even if they do, will the nation vote for someone else? Khan questioned the credibility of the ruling coalition at the Centre.
Facing several lawsuits since his government was ousted in April, Khan said the current government wanted to disqualify him through “fabricated cases” and talked of challenging him in the Supreme Judicial Council. We have gone to the Supreme Judicial Council against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
Earlier this week, PTI senior vice-president Fawad Chaudhry said the ECP and CEC wanted to disqualify Khan. “But the people will not accept decisions made behind closed doors. [The government] must accept the people’s decision and move on. There can be no stability without fresh elections,” he said.
On the other hand, CEC said that ECP neither has any favorite nor is it against anyone. “Action was taken against those who tried to spread chaos and violated the code of conduct, from workers to party chiefs,” he added.
The PTI chief had on October 18 filed a reference against the CEC in the SJC seeking his removal and disqualifying him from holding constitutional office. Khan and other PTI leaders have repeatedly demanded that the Chief Election Commissioner resign from his post and that the ECP be reconstituted before the next general elections.
The party had earlier filed a reference in July, but withdrew it in August shortly after adding more evidence against the commissioner.
The PTI chief also expressed concern over the treatment meted out to Azam Swati during his imprisonment.
In view of what is happening with Azam Swati, I have never seen such a situation in the country. A society in which a senator cannot present his point of view,” he added.
Khan repeated his statement regarding giving the authority to dissolve the provincial assembly to Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. Pervaiz Elahi has given me full authority to dissolve the assembly.
