‘Panama scam a plot against Pakistan’

Siddiq-ul-Farooq says issue will soon die out; rules out any threat to democratic system

LAHORE

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Siddiq-ul-Farooq has termed Panama scandal a plot against Pakistan to deprive it of visionary leadership as well as economic development.

However, he stated this issue would soon die out and ruled out any threat to the democratic system. In an exclusive interview with The News, responding to Panama Leaks, he stated it was a conspiracy to deprive Asian nations, including Pakistan of economic progress as well as the visionary leadership.

Siddiq-ul-Farooq stated that politicians had the right to criticise Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but this was also a fact that he was the only political and popular leader of the country who possessed the economic vision and had been striving to get Pakistan out of the quagmire since 1990. When asked about the apprehensions expressed by senior PML-N leaders regarding a conspiracy being hatched against government by some elements, Siddiq-ul-Farooq stated, “Unfortunately, the agenda of anti-Pakistan forces for their ulterior motives and Imran Khan’s agenda for his personal political target has coincided.

He flayed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan for playing in the hands of forces hatching conspiracies against Pakistan. However, he stated that the present situation created through Panama Leaks would completely diffuse and Pakistan would ‘keep walking if not marching’ on the path of economic development with the support of China, Turkey and other countries. He went on to say that this fact should be realised that without considerable and tangible economic development, we couldn’t strengthen our continuously increasing defence requirements and budget. He also stated that country couldn’t combat the challenges such as poverty, diseases and other social evils without economic development. When asked what should be the role of democratic forces now, which jointly struggled against Pervez Musharraf’s dictatorship for eight years, he appealed to all those who claim patriotism rise above personal motives and even petty party interests and work for continuity of Constitution and democracy so that the institution strengthen and start delivering. He said that democratic forces must critically judge the performance of the PML-N government and play their role to strengthen the system and federation keeping in view the fact that the PML-N government led by Nawaz Sharif might commit mistakes but would never cause any harm to national objectives.

To a question whether corruption of the sacked generals be made public and subsequently should they be tried in a court of law, Siddiq-ul-Farooq replied that ‘Defence services are very important for country and they are protected from criticism and even their affairs cannot be discussed in parliament because they are apolitical’. He said accountability in the forces was a must and retiring officers should be the first step. Within Constitution objective and limits it would not only earn respect and honour for the armed forces but will also strengthen and improve their professional capabilities, enabling them to cope with any challenge in future. He said he would support Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif’s stance that transparent accountability should be held at all levels. He added that the PM had presented himself and his family for accountability through Judicial Commission. If anyone has any proofs against him should submit to the JC. Ruling out any chances of October 12, 1999 like incident again, Siddiq-ul-Farooq said he totally rejected any possibility of any extra-constitutional act. However, he said if someone tried to resort to treason it would be at the cost of country’s solidarity and defence capabilities. Responding to the criticism on Nawaz government for his soft tone and inclination towards Narendra Modi government, he said the fact was that neither in past nor at present Nawaz Sharif wanted to give any concession to India, compromising Pakistan’s interests. But at the same time, he stated the government wanted peace in the region, referring Lahore Declaration signed between Nawaz and Wajpai 1999. He also said there were individuals in groups who through social media were conspiring to establish a link between RAW and Nawaz Sharif but the fact was that such contacts and cooperation had been proved between RAW and MQM during the nine and half years allegedly patronised and strengthened by the then Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf.