News Desk |
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan reinstated his vision of eliminating the scourge of corruption from Pakistan, he vowed that no amount of pressure from the opposition or any blame game would undermine this vision.
Addressing a press conference at the Sindh Governor House, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, “They want to hear three words from me: National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). Rather than giving them an agreement, I am more interested in sending these corrupt leaders to jail.”
During their tenure, the national debt soared from $6 billion to $30 billion, and this plundered public wealth was sent abroad using the illegal instrument of Hawala and Hundi.
The Prime Minister was on a one-day visit to Karachi to meet the business community and address their economic challenges. He was accompanied by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Zaidi and Federal Minister for Water Resources, Faisal Vawda.
https://twitter.com/letmeh_speak/status/1148942452478361601
PM @ImranKhanPTI has arrived in Karachi @PTIofficial @InsafPK pic.twitter.com/rUQfbXr2h6
— MARY… THE IRISH INSAFIAN (@IRISHINSAFIAN) July 10, 2019
Corrupt Leaders Behind Bars
(1/3) Prime Minister Of Pakistan Imran Khan Media Talk Karachi (10.07.19)#PrimeMinisterImranKhan #PTI #FPCCI #KCCI #IKrevivingEconomy pic.twitter.com/uncUHmZL9C
— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 10, 2019
The Premier endorsed the Chinese model of taking action against corrupt leaders, and cited the example of the Chinese government, which jailed over 400 Ministers and thousands of corrupt bureaucrats.
The Premier further warned that when a nation does not punish its corrupt mafia or politicians, corruption increases manifold. He added that the former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari have plundered and looted the wealth of the nation. Imran Khan commented, “Our condition will not change unless we take strict action against corrupt leaders.”
Read more: Corruption & Pakistan: Only one thing can stay
Highlighting the scores of money laundering between Rs10-12 billion, the Premier reminded, “All those who are stealing public wealth and engaged in money laundering must keep in mind that we will demand justice, drag them through courts and punish them to eliminate corruption and carve a new future for Pakistan.”
Blaming the former Nawaz and Zardari-led governments for the rampant poverty and downfall of the economy, Imran Khan added, “During their tenure, the national debt soared from $6 billion to $30 billion, and this plundered public wealth was sent abroad using the illegal instrument of Hawala and Hundi.”
The Premier claimed, “I am being blackmailed since day one that my government will be derailed, but I will not betray the nation. If we can succeed in holding the elite and powerful accountable in this country, we can progress as a nation.”
Lavish Trips & Assets Abroad
(2/3) Prime Minister Of Pakistan Imran Khan Media Talk Karachi (10.07.19)#PrimeMinisterImranKhan #PTI #FPCCI #KCCI #IKrevivingEconomy pic.twitter.com/HaDrB0ORu0
— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 10, 2019
Prime Minister Imran Khan shed light on the excessively lavish and frequent foreign trips made by former President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, at the expense of the national exchequer.
There are no new cases, these are the cases that they have been filing against each other since the 1990s.
Referring to his official visit to the US on 21st July, Imran Khan said, “I will be visiting the United States, and instead of lavish hotels, I will stay at the Pakistani Embassy to save public wealth.”
He added, “Asif Zardari visited the United Arab Emirates over 40 times, and Nawaz Sharif made dozens of trips to London, spending Rs64 million, primarily because of their lavish palatial residences and business investments. We want to address the scourge of corruption and demand accountability because our livelihoods are here.”
The Premier briefed the press that Pakistan is obtaining $6 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to uplift the economy, while the former governments led by Nawaz and Zardari money laundered over $12 billion dollars out of the country.”
Read more: Hidden assets revealed: Government to file a reference against Zardari
The Premier stated, “We have no option but to punish them vigorously so we can set a powerful precedent and undermine all those who dare to plunder public wealth in the future.”
NRO: Betrayal with Nation
(3/3) Prime Minister Of Pakistan Imran Khan Media Talk Karachi (10.07.19)#PrimeMinisterImranKhan #PTI #FPCCI #KCCI #IKrevivingEconomy pic.twitter.com/zZmUkANWHP
— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 10, 2019
Imran Khan asserted that the corrupt looters of the opposition have joined forces to escape the accountability process. He said, “The accountability process has scared them, and forced them to join forces. Traitors will not be forgiven, and giving NRO to any one of them will be a betrayal with the nation.”
Imran Khan stressed that the PTI-led government was using the accountability process to extract revenge from the opposition parties. He mentioned, “There are no new cases, these are the cases that they have been filing against each other since the 1990s.”
Our government will finish its tenure, and let me assure you that we will eliminate the scourge of corruption from Pakistan and invite investments to ensure prosperity and progress.
The premier also criticized the opposition leaders for creating a ruckus in the National Assembly and not allowing him the space to speak and brief the parliament. Highlighting the unity between PPP and PML-N to “rescue democracy”, he said, “They have joined forces because the only thing they have in common is corruption.”
No Governor Rule in Sindh
In response to a question, Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed that there were no plans or talks regarding imposing governor rule in Sindh, and added that the provincial government will complete the five-year tenure.
Read more: Will PTI topple PPP’s government in Sindh?
The Prime Minister was asked to respond to Asif Ali Zardari’s recent prediction that Imran Khan-led government will be dismantled before November, at which the premier let out a laugh. He remarked, “Our government will finish its tenure, and let me assure you that we will eliminate the scourge of corruption from Pakistan and invite investments to ensure prosperity and progress.”