ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Monday that Panama documents have confirmed the stance of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif that they have no assets abroad.
Talking to media persons after attending the launching of Islamabad travel guide book here, he said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has been making baseless allegations against the PML-N leadership but the Panama documents have proved him wrong. He said that he does not ask Imran to quit politics, and if he cannot apologize, at least he should be ashamed of for levelling baseless allegations against the PML-N leadership.
To a question,he said that family members of the Prime Minister family have been living abroad for a long time as they were forced out of the country in late 90s and were not allowed to return home which compelled them to establish their businesses abroad.
He said that sons of the Prime Minister set up businesses with white money and they have been paying taxes regularly and their assets were legal. He questioned whether those levelling baseless allegations can certify that their relatives living abroad are getting their education from church charity.
After all some-one is paying for their expenses and they do have their businesses, he added. He said that Imran Khan has the habit of the making mountain out of a molehill.
The minister said that the Sharif family has faced several injustices in the past as in 1970s, their Ittefaq Foundary set up by their father in 1939 was nationalized without paying them any compensation amount.
The minister said that in 1999 the Sharifs were forced to leave the country and their businesses were closed and their family home was converted into old age home. He said in these circumstances the sons of the PM under compulsion, set up their businesses abroad.
The minister said that Nawaz Sharif had a clean track record and even his worst enemies could not register any case of misappropriation for the mega projects he had launched in his official capacity.
He said that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto targetted his personal businesses to settle political scores when she was the Prime Minister but she never framed charges of misappropriation against Nawaz Sharif.
Similarly, he added, Pervez Musharraf,could not even register any case of misappropriation in public funds in mega projects like motorway, banking and telecom sector reforms.
He reminded Imran Khan that Bani Gala palace land issue was challengeable as the stories told by him regarding donation of land by his ex-wife and sale of flat had many contradictions and flaws.
He said that Pakistan was passing through a difficult time and there was a need to focus energies to fight terrorism, revive economy and build China-Pak Economic Corridor on priority basis.
He said that targetting of politicians started in 1958 when Elected Bodies Disqualification Order (EBDO) was introduced but such politics resulted in dismemberment of the country, toppling of democratic governments, and abrogation of the Constitutions.
He advised Imran that if he had any proofs against Sharifs, he should knock the doors of international courts or approach National Accountability Bureau but stop media trial of the government. He said Imran was trying to mislead the masses because elections will be held in two years time. He said that PML-N has a long list of achievements including achievements in war against terrorism,regional peace, economic revival and overcoming energy crisis. He said that PML-N will go to the people on the basis of its performance and the people would vote for it in 2018.
He said on the contrary,Imran Khan has nothing to show to the masses except a sit-in which delayed the important CPEC project for one and a half year as Chinese President’s visit had to be postponed.
He said Imran neither understands politics nor economics and issues frivolous statements.
To a question he said PTI foreign funding case was a private case,and its lawyer was using delaying tactics to prolong the proceedings. He said the PML-N does not believe in negative politics and does not want to promote such traditions in the national politics.
Replying to a query, he said that all national institutions were working under the parameters of the Constitution and reports of any differences were not true.
