PM ready to justify every penny, also wants rivals to do so

Says he has no fear; to go home if allegations proved; some elements out to scuttle govt; he, his family not involved in illegal business, kickbacks; details of assets filed before ECP

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday put himself up for accountability for every single penny but said those seeking accountability should also do the same. He said he was not prone to fear and would go home if the allegations against him were proven. He announced that he would write a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) for setting up a commission to probe the allegations being levelled against his family in the wake of the Panama Leaks.

He said: “I challenge all those who allege tax fraud to come forward and present evidence. If charges are proved against me, I will resign immediately.” He said that he would wholeheartedly accept the recommendations of the commission. If the allegations levelled against him were proved wrong, then those accusing him would have to face the nation and seek its forgiveness, he added.

The prime minister referred to his earlier address to the nation and said he had announced setting up of a commission at a time when there was no such public demand. He regretted that his political opponents were pressurising the judges not to be a part of the inquiry commission. Nawaz Sharif said he was not afraid of anyone but Allah Almighty. “I have full faith in Him and the people of Pakistan, who will respond to these baseless allegations.”

He rejected what he called a “fascist attitude” to destroy and bring instability to the country. He said the current crisis, made up by his opponents, was nothing but an eyewash aimed at getting power, by creating instability in the country. The prime minister said immediately after the Panama Papers issue came to the fore, he took the nation into confidence, despite the fact that there was no allegation against his person.

“These are all 22-year-old allegations,” the prime minister said and added that all these cases have been probed several times. He said former President Pervez Musharraf thoroughly investigated, but failed to find misappropriation of even a penny. “I once again present myself and my family for accountability,” the prime minister said and added that details of his assets as declared through his income tax returns were available.

“We have been paying taxes since the time people did not even know how to spell the word tax,” he said and recalled that it was his government that for the first time published the tax directory. He dismissed the allegations that he paid less taxpeople of Pakistan are well aware of the facts. The prime minister said that the people of Pakistan have in the past rejected such allegations and expressed solidarity with him by reposing confidence in him and voting for him in the general election.

The prime minister said in a candid manner that his life is like an open book as he was born and bred in Pakistan and his children also grew up here. He said he was proud of having his family associated with Pakistan and would die in his homeland. Nawaz Sharif said out of his political career spanning over three decades, the worst time he had faced was of his exile.

Only he or his family could realise how they endured it, he added. He said all the details of their assets were already declared in the form of income tax returns. He said after coming to know the removal of the assets details of parliamentarians from the Election Commission's website, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar took up the matter before the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms and on his directive got it displayed again.

He said it was the basic right of the people to know the assets of their parliamentarians. The prime minister said Pakistani media was freer than developed countries, which gained freedom from the shackles of the dictatorship after a long struggle. He said some of the media men also fell prey to such allegations and requested them to first put themselves in his place before publishing or airing any allegation against any citizen.

He said the commission is yet to be formed and proceedings are yet to start but some people have already given their verdict. "Will they desire such a justice for them," he questioned. Nawaz Sharif said he had been responding to the very questions in the past and is willing to reply them effectively at present too. People have the right to question and the leaders are bound to respond, he added. Nawaz recalled that a Judicial Commission was constituted in 2014 with consensus of all political parties to probe the allegations of rigging in 2013 general elections and had rejected the accusations as "pack of lies".

He regretted that those who were making the allegations of rigging and were using foul language by standing on the "container" did not have moral courage to seek forgiveness from the nation after the Commission's report. The prime minister said his family had been held accountable for every penny and referred to the loss of billions of rupees his family had suffered due to nationalisation in 1972. "Who will be made accountable for those losses?" he questioned.

Nawaz said he is even ready to stand accountable for the salary that he never received as prime minister. "But who will be accountable for those who travel in private planes," he remarked. The prime minister said as masses would be getting the benefits of his government's ongoing development agenda and programme after the five-year term, his power-hungry opponents are foreseeing their defeat in the next general election.

Nawaz said he isn’t concerned over allegations against his family members, but over the losses suffered by country. He termed it as "unpardonable" crime and asked masses to hold these people accountable for it. "These people want me to dissipate my energies on responding to such false allegations instead of focusing on the progress and development of the country, as it is their vision." The prime minister said his vision is progress, prosperity and a bright Pakistan. "But we too have some questions and also need their answers. Those questioning of our factories in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, should tell us who exiled us to Saudi Arabia and why? Those proclaiming for rule of law should tell us under which law an elected prime minister was handcuffed and put behind bars? Why someone did not dare to knock at the doors of the Supreme Court when we were exiled? Those claiming to be the embodiment of virtue today, also kept mum, except very few people, when our businesses and private residence were locked. Those teaching us morality should tell us as where was their moral courage at that time. Those trying to teach us the definition of democracy, should also tell who, for sake of Prime Ministerial office, was supporting the dictator who had plunged the country into terrorism? Those referring to the law and morality should tell us under which legal clause and article of the Constitution, they had pledged allegiance to the dictator?" he questioned.

Nawaz said his family had tried to pay even for the sins they had never committed. They had been made accountable for each and every moment and would be accountable in the future too, he added.

"But my dear countrymen, let them also be held accountable, who are out to seek accountability. The accountability for abrogating the Constitution to imposing 17th Amendment; the accountability for administering oath to the Supreme Court judges at gunpoint; accountability for house-arresting 72 judges in their houses; accountability for the worst torture on our brave workers and accountability for implicating me falsely in a hijacking case. Should not they be made accountable?" the Prime Minister asked the nation. He said his government believed in good governance, transparency and an end to corruption. The international organizations had also acknowledged the good governance of their government, he added. Nawaz Sharif said the rule of law; transparent government and moral responsibility are rooted in the supremacy of democracy and Constitution. He said it is unacceptable that those attacking the Parliament and threatening to drag the Prime Minister in the past by holding rope in his neck now stand up again and harp tune of supremacy of the Constitution. The Prime Minister didn’t take name any of his opponents in his whole speech but referred once Pervez Musharaf as unlawful ruler.

Online adds: Political parties described Nawaz Sharif’s address as extremely disappointing. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called for PM to step down over Panama Leaks.

In a message on Twitter shortly after the PM’s televised address, Bilawal said that PM should follow his own advice and resign. He said Nawaz should put all the matters before parliament if he is a public leader in real meaning. He said the PM did not prefer to address a media conference and he should keep his words and quit.

PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, addressing media, said the PPP and other political parties will not let the matter of Panama Papers be forgotten. "The government's method of dealing with any major issue is to let it play out, and once enough time passes and other important issues take precedence, the matter is forgotten," said Kaira.

He added that all political parties are in agreement and united on the issue of Panama Papers, and the government's tactic of diluting important issues will not work. Sindh Information Advisor Maula Bux Chandio stated the nation was disappointed with the PM’s address.

PTI also rejected government’s terms of reference (ToR) regarding establishment of a judicial commission on allegations of offshore wealth. PTI leader Naeem-ul-Haq said that Imran Khan was the target of the PM’s speech. He said Imran Kahn will respond to the PM in a rally on Saturday, he said.

He said that PM’s address to the nation was disappointing. Haq said that as previous addresses PM is trying to beguile nation through political lament. “PM has not mentioned the assets, which have been disclosed by Panama Papers. Army chief’s reaction against corruption has affected PM’s nerves,” PTI leader added

He said that Nawaz is suffering from ‘Khan-phobia’. PM has not disclosed the powers of the probe commission. He asked that how and in how much time CJ would able to investigate the Sharif family’s assets.

Awami Musim League (AML) head Sheikh Rashid lamented that PM resorted to personal attacks against Imran Khan instead of responding to allegations against his family. “Prime minister is the biggest product of marital laws,” he said, urging the PML-N leader to review his approach.

He predicted that there would be at least one more speech of Prime Minister in the coming days. Leader of the Opposition in Senate Aitezaz Ahsan described Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s address as “unsatisfactory”.

“We don’t accept the government’s ToR. This is not the commission opposition parties have been seeking to investigate Panama papers,” he said. He said that opposition parties were not taken into confidence about the ToR of the judicial commission.

PPP leader said that Prime Minister Sharif was not forced into exile; he himself went to Saudi Arabia by entering into an agreement with Pervez Musharraf. Ahsan threw a challenge to the prime minister on payment of taxes.

“Prime Minister Sharif owns sugar, garments and many other mills and factories and yet I have paid more tax than him,” he said.