Nawaz has no moral authority to rule country: Imran

• Announces rally in Lahore next Sunday, anti-corruption movement in Sindh; says PM has no moral authority to rule
• Rejects TORs announced by the commission; says PTI will launch countrywide protests if TORs are not made more specific, and an international forensic firm is not engaged, reiterates demand for a CJP-led commission

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, addressing a large crowd at Islamabad’s F9 park, announced the start of an anti-corruption movement in Sindh from April 26, and a rally in Lahore next Sunday.

“Starting April 26, we will launch an anti-corruption movement in Sindh,” Imran said.

The PTI chairman also announced a rally in Lahore, scheduled for May 1.

Imran Khan said during his speech said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should resign as he has been left with no moral authority to rule.

Briefly touching upon the much-hyped Raiwind March, which was announced earlier, the PTI chairman said that it would happen after the Lahore rally, not giving a specific date.

TORS UNACCEPTABLE:

Referring to the recently announced inquiry commission to probe Panama Papers, Imran said that if the terms of reference (TORs) of the commission are not made specific, and an international forensic firm is not engaged for investigation, they will again come out on the streets in agitation.

“Democracy will be strengthened if there free and fair elections. It will not weaken with calls for probes into corruption,” Imran said, referring to the premier’s earlier televised address.

Imran Khan demanded that the TORs of the Panama Leaks investigation be decided after consulting the opposition parties.

“The Pakistani nation will rise up in protest if justice is not done,” Khan said, and added that he will come to Lahore next Sunday and announce the new strategy regarding the Panama Leaks revelations.

He also questioned the prime minister’s absence from parliament, given the example of British Prime Minister David Cameron, who attended parliament and answered questions relating to his involvement in offshore investments.

NO MORAL AUTHORITY:

He said that the Pakistani people are hard working and honest but have been subjected to corrupt rulers. “The country is running on loans as the leaders are corrupt,” he said.

The PTI chief said that the PM did not truthfully declare his assets before the Election Commission; therefore, he has no moral authority to rule the country.

Referring to the Panama Leaks investigation, Khan asked the PML-N workers if they are following a political party or a monarch.

CHIEF JUSTICE SHOULD HEAD COMMISSION:

He said that PM Nawaz will have to speak the truth as there is plenty of evidence against him relating to his corruption.

He demanded that the investigation of the matter should be carried out by the chief justice of Pakistan. He added that he is hopeful that the PM will make a decision regarding the Panama Leaks investigation prior to the start of the Raiwind march.

Imran said that attempts are being made to tarnish the image of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. He stated that rich in the country are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer as the latter are the ones paying all the taxes.

“People are dying of hunger and the prime minister is busy launching metro buses in the country,” he said.

KHAN TO MAKE THE PM PAY:

Lashing out at the prime minister during his speech, the PTI chairman said: “Panama Papers named you and your offspring but you stayed safe. LDA plots scandal broke out and you took money from ISI but you remained safe. Mehran Bank scandal and Hudebia Papers Mills scandals broke out but you remained safe.”

He accused the premier of launching a smear campaign against the former’s charitable Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) in response to the accusations of acquiring illegal money in Panama leaks against the Sharif family.

“The hospital which is working for the welfare for legions of people, you [PM Nawaz] are criticisng it and saying that it has been involved in corruption. If it’s true, why didn’t you start an investigation in eight years of your rule? I challenge you, Nawaz Sharif, to start a probe into the allegation against SKMH. It will only elevate the fame of the hospital and people will know how much I have spent on my welfare hospital,” Imran added.

THE NOSTALGIC KHAN:

“It has been 20 years now, but it feels like I have just started my party. It has been two decades of my political struggle, but I am ready for another 20 years. I thank my people for appreciating me and my struggle,” Imran said.

Addressing the party’s 20th Foundation Day rally, the PTI chief said that he started playing cricket at a time when it was believed that it was not possible to defeat the powerful English side. He said that the national hockey side was at its very best during his days.

Imran stated that the country is heading towards downfall instead of improving, adding that democracy in the country is heading backwards instead of moving forward. He said that he never thought of joining politics as he was not good at delivering speeches in the beginning.

He said that God blessed him more than he could have imagined.

“I was afraid of what I would say to God when I meet him (after dying),” he said, and added that he could have spent a better life by becoming a cricket analyst and staying away from politics.

RIGHTS OF MINORITIES:

The PTI leader emphasised on the rights of the minorities in the country and took a pledge from the party’s supporters to protect minorities in Pakistan.

“We have to give rights to women; we have to make minorities VIPs; we have to set an example when it comes to safeguarding the rights of minorities. But I am in so much pain since I heard about Soran Singh’s murder. Soran’s wife and children wanted to leave Pakistan for India but he stayed while his family left,” Imran added.

He said that Pakistan was supposed to be an Islamic welfare state but the minorities in the country are not being respected.

The PTI chief said that he is thankful to those who stand with him.

ROAD TO FOUNDATION DAY EVENT:

Earlier on Sunday PTI geared up to host a ‘family festival’ at Fatima Jinnah Park to celebrate its 20th Foundation Day.

The gathering, was termed “the largest in the history of the country” by PTI leader Zahid Hussein Kazmi earlier in the day. The PTI had estimated attendance of 300,000 to 500,000 people at the F-9 park.

Famous artists had also been invited to perform at the festival and a documentary “showing PTI’s struggle over the last 20 years” was screened in addition to a fireworks display.

Party activists had been told to bring at least 500 people each to the park, while PTI MPAs from Islamabad and Rawalpindi had been asked to bring 5,000 people each, including women and children, a senior party leader had said earlier, and added that the party wanted people to know the festival was a family event and there will be no agitation like in the 2014 sit-ins.

On Saturday, the cricketer-turned-politician had termed the judicial commission formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to probe the Panama Papers revelations ‘an eyewash’, saying the opposition was not taken into confidence on the TORs.

The ruling PML-N has dismissed Imran’s threat of fresh protests, saying the 2014 demonstrations against electoral rigging in the 2013 general elections had damaged the PTI chief’s credibility after a judicial commission ruled that the election had largely been free and fair.

PTI WORKERS WILL NOT ‘REACT’ TO KHAWAJA ASIF’S PROVOCATIVE REMARKS:

Senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that party workers would not ‘react’ to Khawaja Asif’s provocative remarks about the rally.

Talking to media, Qureshi said the PTI had already rejected the commission formed by the government. He said that the TORs of the commission were also not discussed and now party was looking forward to the chief justice of Pakistan’s reply.

Qureshi also said the government did not arrange rallies to compete the opposition since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was upset at the moment.

With reference to Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement, Qureshi said that Asif’s statement was very challenging but PTI workers would not be provoked.