ISLAMABAD - PTI Chairman Imran Khan yesterday demanded formation of a probe commission under the head of Chief Justice of Pakistan to examine Panama Papers revelations, and threatened to stage another Dharna (sit-in) in Raiwind if his demand was not met.
In his live address to the people from his Banni Gala residence, which was not telecast by the state television as per his demand, Imran once again demanded resignation of Premier Nawaz Sharif implicating his two sons and daughter of having offshore companies.
A massive leak of 11.5 million tax documents on April 3 exposed the secret offshore dealings of world leaders and celebrities, also naming three of the premier’s children for owning London real estate through offshore companies.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has lost moral authority to lead the country. I demand you (PM) to resign,” Imran said, adding, “Given the seriousness of these allegations, you (Nawaz) have lost the moral authority to rule.”
Rejecting the government plan to form an inquiry commission under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge, PTI Chief said, “We demand formation of a commission led by incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan under whom white-collar crimes investigation experts would work. I also demand hiring foreign firms which would investigate money trails.”
The PTI chief said he would give the government time until April 24, his party’s 20th foundation day, to set the probe in action as per their demands; otherwise, he would come up with his future course of action in his address on the day.
If Panama Papers revelations were not probed by an independent judicial commission, “we will surround Raiwind with millions of people to press the premier to either constitute an independent judicial commission or step down”, he said, terming it a defining moment in the country’s history where he could not sit back.
He also asked the nation to take benefit of this defining moment and rise against the corrupt rulers to save the country from total collapse and destruction. “This is the time to rise and if the masses will not struggle at this time, everything is bound to get destroyed,” he added. The money hidden abroad through offshore companies is no more secret, he said, and demanded that a struggle be waged against the wrongdoing.
On Friday, government rejected PTI’s demand to broadcast Imran Khan’s speech live on state television, Pakistan Television (PTV), saying only the President and PM have the right.
Imran said that “being the head of the second largest party of the country, I had the right to address the nation”. He said the PML-N was trying to hide corruption of their leader who is trying to appear innocent after the revelations were made.
During his address he also referred to the confessional statement of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar about the money laundering of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family. “Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had confessed how he laundered money out of Pakistan.”
He also referred to the huge real estate empire of Ishaq Dar’s sons in UAE questioning how come they had made such huge money in a very short span of time.
“Government’s defence is to blame others. Instead of seeking explanation from prime minister, his cabinet ministers started blaming the Shaukat Khanum hospital,” Imran said. He said that a welfare hospital is being blackmailed by the government, adding that the people were told lies in regards to the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital.
He said investigation has begun in Argentina, Britain, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand and India following the Panama papers revelations.
Imran drew parallels between the Pakistani prime minister and his British counterpart David Cameron saying the latter was facing immense pressure to relinquish the post despite the fact that he received funds from offshore companies of his father before assuming the office of prime minister.
“PM Cameron’s only fault is to pay less in taxes, he did not abuse his powers,” Khan said, adding that the Pakistani prime minister, on the other hand, indulged in corruption, tax evasion and money laundering – all very serious and compoundable crimes.
The PTI chief said that the people in Iceland are on the streets after the Panama Leaks were disclosed against their prime minister (PM) and added that those people are doing jihad (an effort for the collective good).
Imran further stated Nawaz Sharif tried to mislead the nation through his address.

Inside

qureshi drives another wedge into pti
see back page
Nothing new in Imran address: Pervaiz
see page 02