Nawaz denies receiving Rs 2.5m from Younas Habib

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Thursday categorically denied receiving Rs 2.5 million from intelligence agencies in order to develop the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) ahead of the 1990 elections. “Neither I met Younas Habib nor received money from him,” the twice-elected former premier said during a talk show televised by a private channel. During the hearing of the Asghar Khan case, the central character of the scandal, Younas Habib had named Nawaz as one of the beneficiaries of secret funds distributed among politicians to influence the 1990 elections. The PML-N chief said Younas Habib had a dubious character and criminal record, and that it would be unwise to believe his words. He said that Younas had blamed a number of politicians, but did not disclose the name of even a single PPP leader who had gained financial benefits.
Nawaz said that in 1990, the factories owned by his family had paid Rs 920 million in taxes, and that it was a joke that they would receive Rs 2.5 million from agencies. “I have been Punjab finance minister once, and served twice each as chief minister and prime minister, but never received secret funds. Even I gave away my salary in charity,” he added. Nawaz said that National Assembly Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had opposed an enquiry into the matter under the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) because of reservations, and the statement was not intended to show disrespect to the Supreme Court. “We had played a frontline role in the movement for the restoration of judiciary, then how come one can imagine that we would commit contempt of court,” he said. To a question, Nawaz said that he would consider filing a defamation lawsuit against Younas Habib for damaging his reputation.