According to Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, he should be made NAB Chairman so that he can provide proof of corruption against the incumbent government.
While talking about election rigging during his recent interview, Shahid Khaqan accused the PTI government of corruption. He also said PTI rigged the 2018 elections.
“The current situation in Pakistan is solely due to the 2018 election rigging,” former PM of Pakistan Abbasi said.
In response to Abbasi’s accusations, journalist Irshad Ahmed Arif said as per the current government, the previous government rigged the 2013 elections. Moreover, the government of 2013 said the government of 2008 rigged the elections. It appears to be a vicious cycle.
Upon agreeing with the statements, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said all elections in Pakistan are rigged. Pakistan as a state does not function according to the constitution, or the law.
“We consider the Constitution an ordinary book,” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said.
Read more: Shahid Khaqan admits to rigging elections, says no electoral reform can save Pakistan
Make me NAB Chairman: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Furthermore, during the interview, anchor Faisal Abbasi asked Khaqan about PML-N’s decision to release “corruption papers” focusing on the PTI government. As per the official announcement, PML-N will issue corruption papers on 17th August.
PML-N is known to issue “white papers”, but this time around it will release “corruption papers.”
While referring to the papers, anchor Faisal Abbasi then asked Khaqan whether he had any evidence regarding PTI’s alleged corruption.
“Leveling accusations are common in politics. However what proof do you have that the PM is doing corruption?” anchor Faisal Abbasi asked Shahid Khaqan.
Shahid Khaqan responded by saying that Pakistan’s current government is the most corrupt. He highlighted the prices of sugar and grain, stating that authorities deliberately smuggle them to increase prices.
Read more: Pakistan’s Unusual and Unprecedented Food Inflation – What is driving it?
He also said Pakistan is currently importing the world’s most expensive LNG. This in itself is corruption.
#Pakistan was “forced” to buy four #LNG cargoes for more than $15 per million British thermal units (MMBTU), constituting the most expensive purchase of the commodity since the country started importing it in 2015, @MoWP15 says https://t.co/IOAqWcs7ID
— Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) July 30, 2021
As per Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the incumbent government failed to detect any corruption scandals even though there are many in their current ministries. Furthermore, he accused the government’s officials of evading taxes, owing to their luxurious protocols.
“Make me Chairman of NAB. I will provide proof of all the corruption,” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said.
He then ended his tirade against the current government by criticizing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and saying it operates “blindly.”
Read more: Shaukat Tarin and NAB go head to head on accusations
Khaqan Abbasi’s frequent accusations
This is not the first time Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is leveling corruption accusations against PM Khan.
Back in March this year, former premier and PML-N senior vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi alleged that PM Khan received Rs700 million from Mohammad Abdul Qadir for making him a senator from Balochistan.
“Imran Khan will have to be answerable for receiving Rs700m to make him (Mr. Qadir) a senator. Even the PTI’s own people are saying that this man became a senator after he paid Rs700m to Imran Khan,” Abbasi told media.
Read more: State Sponsored Corruption, claims Shabbar Zaidi
Abbasi also said there is no comparison of the PTI government’s corruption with that of its predecessors, but the courts, the NAB, and the Anti-Corruption Establishment are silent over it.
Khaqan Abbasi is also very vocal about his criticism of NAB. Last month he said Pakistan cannot progress with NAB. Abbasi stated that the rulers of the country should choose between running the government or running the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).