Imran creating hurdles in Nawaz’s way: PML-N

• Saad says pulling legs to just serve interests of enemies

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was determined to taking the country’s economic strength to new heights but Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was creating hurdles in his way.

Talking to the media here, he said that the Panama Papers issue was nothing but an international conspiracy to hamper the development process. He raised specific reservations on the report, recently submitted by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

He said that the party’s legal team was examining the report and would present its stance before the court. He said it seemed that an international conspiracy was being hatched to derail Pakistan’s economic development process as some elements did not want to see the country as a prosperous and powerful one.

He said that the politics of allegations was not serving national interests in any manner. “Let us do politics on the basis of performance, instead on the basis of just allegations,” he said. “We are engaged in pulling each others’ legs which is serving the interests of enemies,” he added.

Addressing a joint press conference, Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and senior PML-N leader MNA Daniyal Aziz termed the JIT report as inconclusive and without having any solid evidence on any allegation. Dr Fazal said that the JIT report left many questions unanswered as it lacked verification of many facts.

He added that the JIT had only mandate to having investigation on ownership of London flats. However, he said the report lacked essential evidence as it could not even prove that Mayfair flats were owned by the Sharif family even before 2006. He said that JIT remained busy in collecting evidence to damage the image of the Sharif family which was against its mandate.

He said that despite hectic efforts, the JIT failed to prove accusations of money laundering, concealment of wealth or tax evasion on the prime minister. He said not a single evidence was attached with the report to show the prime minister’s involvement in any such matter during his 35 years political career.

“This is ample proof that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif never ever misused their powers rather they saved billion rupees in many development projects,” he said. He said that all the exercise was done to tarnish the image of Nawaz Sharif and his family and nothing. He said that Nawaz Sharif was enjoying overwhelm support of the nation.

Speaking on the occasion, Daniyal said that the remarks in the report against the prime minister were based on mere speculations instead of proofs. He said that the words like most likely and seems have been used to declare the prime minister owner of the flats that were not acceptable. Why JIT did not record the statement of the Qatari royal who was an important and main witness, he questioned.

He said that State Minister Maryam Aurangzeb was tried on media for 13 months. He said that he would humbly request the top court to look into the JIT findings. He said that JIT head Wajid Zia of hiring his cousin’s firm in England because he was giving a discount. He said that the ruling party at the centre was pressurised to resign on ‘most likely’ terms.