ISLAMABAD: The two major opposition parties in Pakistan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), have urged the Supreme Court (SC) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take action against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, calling the report on foreign funding a “damning indictment” of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
A courtroom battle is unlikely, however, as both the PML-N and PPP disagree with a legal challenge to the prime minister’s removal from office because they feel that the Supreme Court (SC) should take action against him on its own.
As per the former PM Nawaz Sharif, “The dishonest and unscrupulous political conman, Mr Clean, has finally been exposed.” My removal was orchestrated in part by another dishonourable individual, who used the alias “Sadiq & Ameen” to conceal his involvement. He declared in a tweet that “divine justice has been done, just the legal one needs to be seen and done.”
A foreign funding report, according to PML-N leaders at a press conference in Islamabad, has confirmed to them that PTI received funds from foreign nationals and companies, concealed dozens of bank accounts, and embezzled Rs310 million over four years from 2009 to 2013. The apex court and the ECP are expected to act against the PTI on this basis.
PML-N vice president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi remarked at the news conference that “we anticipate from the ECP and the SC, which has previously utilised its Suo Motu powers, that they will take note of it [the report].
“We hope that the Supreme Court will take note of this matter on its own.” Mr Abbasi asked, “Can the same SC not put questions to a prime minister who has been embezzling millions of rupees and is not ready to provide a record [of the party funds]?” It appears that Mr Abbasi was referring to the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was dismissed by the Supreme Court after he was found to be in contempt of court for not receiving a meagre salary based on an Iqama [work permit].
In response to a query on whether the PML-N will file a petition with the Supreme Court against the PTI following the release of the ECP’s findings on the PTI’s foreign funding, Mr Abbasi replied, “It is the role of the SC and ECP to hold these individuals responsible.” There is a need to begin a serious probe.
Mr Abbasi cited a statement stating that a cricket club in Dubai sent $2.1 million to the PTI. Likewise, he said that Mr Khan was the owner of two US-registered firms, information about which the ECP had received from the US Department of Justice website.
Senate Finance Secretary Saleem Mandviwala told Dawn that the ECP has no choice but to ban PTI before the next elections and that all eyes are now on the ECP. However, he said that the ECP had not taken action yet since the report had not surfaced until now, alleging that it had taken seven years to produce.
At a press conference earlier, Mr Mandviwala slammed the PTI for blaming the PPP and the PML-N for getting foreign funding rather than recognising its own incompetence.
“The ECP report confirming PTI’s foreign financing is a stunning indictment not just of the party’s corruption but exposes its hypocrisy,” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari tweeted. In addition, tax documents show that since Imran Khan assumed power, PTI’s income has grown by a factor of more than 50. Imran Khan has gotten wealthy while Pakistan’s economy has deteriorated.
Bhutto-Zardari went on to say that Imran Khan’s “ugly visage soiled with corruption” has been exposed. That Imran Khan was forced on the country as part of an alleged anti-corruption crusade is now abundantly obvious. He said that he lied to the people and took the country’s money instead.
In a tweet, PML-N President and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, remarked that the reason behind the PTI’s seven-year run from the foreign financing scandal was now obvious. “Truth has a peculiar way of revealing people.” The report of the investigation committee is a devastating indictment of IK’s character. He said that Sadiq and Ameen’s façade had been shattered into bits.
