Nation can’t be deceived by adopting an innocent posture: Imran

Says a long sit-in will not be required
this time; terms judicial commission a bid to fool the nation

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, Imran Khan, on Wednesday said the nation cannot be deceived on the issue of PanamaLeaks by taking on an innocent posture.

Imran said the matter could not be suppressed any more and the formation of an inquiry commission by the government under a retired judge was nothing but a bid to fool the nation.Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House here, the PTI chief also announced to bring changes to the Police and Ehtesab law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure the rule of law in the province.

Imran, once again referring to the recent PanamaLeaks, said the time for Naya Pakistan — the term he repeatedly uses for his brand of Pakistan under his party — has arrived and no one could stop its emergence any more.

Unleashing a tirade against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family, he alleged that the PanamaLeaks had shown that the Sharif family possessed property worth billions abroad and the PTI had long ago raised its voice against it. He said the Sharif family had been exposed through the PanamaLeaks and his party would not remain silent and launch a movement to bring those responsible to book. He said a long sit-in will not be required this time.

Criticising the government’s decision to form a commission under a retired judge to the probe the allegations levelled in the PanamaLeaks, the PTI chief said that it was an attempt to deceive the nation.

Imran also announced to bring a new police law and Ehtesab Act after which every action would be taken in accordance with law and no one in the government would be allowed to run any business in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PTI chief added that extensive working was carried out on police reforms to make the force more independent in the province. “Unlike the Punjab, the police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot be controlled through postings and transfers,” Imran maintained.

He added that lacunae in the Ehtesab Act were removed and the government would have no influence on the commission that would be absolutely independent in carrying out across-the-board accountability in the province.

Imran also hinted at introducing the women protection bill in the provincial assembly, saying their utmost effort would be aimed at building a consensus on the bill.About the intra-party elections of the PTI, he said the mistakes of the past would not be repeated and the elections would be held in a fair and free manner.