Nisar must stop blackmail, open cases against me, says Khursheed

Says will quit politics if corruption charges proved; will seek reply from the PM to allegations levelled against him

ISLAMABAD:  Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Tuesday presented himself before the House for accountability saying he neither had any offshore accounts nor had he been involved in corrupt practices.

Speaking on a point of order, he called upon Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, who was presiding over the proceedings, to constitute a committee comprising members from the treasury benches for his accountability.

“It will be my last day in politics and as opposition leader if charges of corruption are proved against me,” the PPP leader in a rejoinder to the contents of press conference addressed by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said.

He also accused Nisar of blackmailing him so that he could not criticise him. Khursheed said Nisar had threatened that he would make public documents containing corruption charges against him whenever he spoke against Nisar. 

“The use of such language amounts to blackmail,” he said. He asked the interior minister to open cases against him if he had any proof. The PPP leader said he was a true political leader who started his career as a student and then launched his business in 1973. 

“During this period, neither did I accumulate billions of rupees abroad nor do I have any offshore accounts,” he said. Responding to criticism, Khursheed said he had been loyal to the PPP and never deceived his leadership. 

“I was not sleeping calmly at my home when my leaders were being exiled and also did not call myself as tiger,” he said, adding that his mother was also not alive so that she could write a letter to save her son’s skin.

“I appeal to you to form a committee comprising members from the treasury benches to start my accountability,” the opposition leader said while addressing the chair. The PPP leader said he would seek replies from the prime minister to the allegations leveled against him.