Imran brings fresh ‘evidence’ against Dar, says ex-minister owns 11 companies in Dubai

— Says Dar is Sharifs’ frontman

–Calls Dar’s corruption a joint venture of Sharifs, Dars

–PTI chief says Nawaz’s ideology is corruption

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has levelled serious allegations against former finance minister Ishaq Dar on Friday, saying the latter owns 11 companies in Dubai.

Reading from a piece of paper, Imran told reporters in a presser in Islamabad that one of the 11 companies in Dubai, the HDS Securities Pvt Ltd, owned 52 villas in Dubai.

“Imagine how many villas others companies own,” Imran asked the reporters to think, as he went on to claim that these companies are being funded by the money coming in from Turkey, Oman, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. He said that this inflow of money from these countries meant that there were companies in other parts of the world as well.

“There are two towers named after Dar’s sons in Dubai. Each of the two towers cost Rs10 billion. Where did the money come from?” questioned Imran.

Narrating Dar’s humble beginnings, the PTI chief said that Dar came from a hard-working family, but his life took a turn when he met Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif. “From 1981 to 2002, Dar never paid income tax, which means he didn’t have much money,” Imran claimed.

“And suddenly when the Sharifs took over the Punjab government from 2007 to 2013, Dar’s assets multiplied by 800 times,” he stated. “What did he do, and how did he obtain this? We don’t know.”

Bashing former finance minister, the PTI chairman said Dar was sent away on leave, and not sacked, because the Sharif family feared he would divulge their money laundering secrets, as he did in 2000 in the Hudabiya Mills case.

“The picture of Ishaq Dar lying on a hospital bed looking incredibly ill is a set up; they were trying to get him out of the country so their corruption is protected,” Imran said.

Adding more to the list of his allegations, the PTI chief accused the Sharifs of using Dar as their frontman. “This is a joint-venture between Sharifs and Dars, as Nawaz’s daughter is married to Dar’s son.”

Imran Khan did not spare the current prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, either from his scathing criticism. He said despite his [PM Abbasi] promise of disclosing the details of Pak-Qatar LNG deal in parliament, the prime minister later retracted, saying the terms of the contract were confidential. “How could be a deal confidential if it is made with public money?” questioned Imran.

Turning his guns towards the Sharifs, especially Nawaz, Imran claimed, “These people [Dar, Abbasi, Sharifs] are trying to save their own thievery—that’s what binds them all.  When people say Nawaz Sharif is the name of an ideology, they mean it is an ideology based on corruption.”

In a milder criticism over the judiciary’s apparent soft attitude towards the Sharifs, the PTI chief said, “Nawaz and Maryam say things against the apex court and judiciary without any repercussions, but if a common man says something like that then he is reprimanded.” Questioning the effectiveness of the contempt of court law, he said either this law should be applicable to all or it should be abolished for being ineffective.

Assuring the judiciary of support, the PTI chief said, “The people are behind the SC; it should not take pressure from this family.”