ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday lashed out at his critics for creating an impression in the media that his ‘failure’ to submit money trail for his properties can be compared to the Sharif family’s case in the Supreme Court.
Addressing a media conference on Sunday, Khan said that “it seems after looking at today’s papers that I haven’t given my money trail either”.
“People are being misled. I need to clear this delusion as being a public figure, people give me donations for my charity projects,” said the PTI chief.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) wants to link its case with mine, but their cases are totally different, he said, adding that, “the Sharif family didn’t reveal its source of funds whereas I have”.
“My ex-wife, Jemima, has provided bank accounts’ details in the apex court showing how the funds from the London flat’s sale came into Pakistan.” The PTI chief displayed the documents he has submitted to the court, claiming they prove how he earned money as a cricketer and brought it to Pakistan.
Lashing out at a story in a local newspaper yesterday titled ‘Imran submits ‘Qatari’ letter to SC’, he said that the comparison was ridiculous. As far as my letter is concerned, I can elaborate. “Robert wrote in his letter that he signed me in 1977. He didn’t only sign me; Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal, Majid Khan, Javed Miandad, and 50 other cricketers from all over the world were also signed. It was a standard annual contract of $25,000,” said Khan.
“If you believe you are an investigative journalist, call Austin Robert, check his background, and you will realise that his letter is not [like the] Qatari letter. He will have all the documents in his archives — not just mine, but of 50 other cricketers — proving that we had a standard contract.”
“Everything I own and invested in is in Pakistan. However, Nawaz Sharif’s children have billions parked outside the country,” he alleged.
Lashing out at PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, who had accused him of investing charity money in France and Oman, he said that if the minister had any proof of discrepancies in Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital’s (KMCH) accounts, then he should take his objections to court. “It [the hospital] runs on donations and we have audit reports as proof.” He should be ashamed of himself for levelling baseless allegations against a one-of-its-kind charity hospital.”
Those who support criminals are accomplices and considered criminals themselves, he added. With regards to the Panama Papers case, whose judgment was reserved by the Supreme Court on Friday, Imran said: “The entire country is awaiting the court’s decision”.
Listing matters that became ‘clear’ in light of the court’s hearings, he said Maryam proved to be a beneficial owner of Nielsen and Nescoll offshore companies; Nawaz Sharif received a salary for his employment with [Dubai company] FZE Capital; Gulf Steel Mills was in loss, and ‘most importantly’, the Sharif family lied in court and submitted forged documents.
He said the country will soon be free of this ‘dark night’, adding that the foundation of a ‘Naya Pakistan’ will be set when the Sharifs land in Adiala Jail.
PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi had petitioned the Supreme Court to disqualify Imran Khan and PTI leader Jahangir Tareen for concealing their assets and ‘offshore companies’ in their nomination papers filed to the Election Commission of Pakistan.