ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Saturday described the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan as the proverbial ‘Baba-e-Adam’ in Pakistan for setting up an offshore company in 1983, and said Imran is the accused number one of corruption now.
“Imran will have to give replies to these questions: what function did the company Imran form perform? How much was its annual income? Which product did it market and where? Exactly which properties did he buy through this company? Why did he conceal this company? And, how much tax did he pay in Pakistan at that time,” he asked.
He told a media conference here that Imran remembered the wickets he took and runs he made in 1980 but forgot the offshore company he formed in 1983.
The minister pointed out that Imran’s PTI had six individuals who had offshore companies and they are: Imran himself, Jehangir Tareen, Aleem Khan, his own sister, a senior KP minister and a KP senator.
In contrast to that, he said one individual belonging to the PPP has an offshore company but the ruling PML-N has none; neither the prime minister, nor the party’s legislators or a minister owns an offshore company.
He noted that Imran’s sister had spoken the truth by admitting to owning an offshore company and now Imran should tell the nation whether or not this company was in his knowledge, and if yes, why did he hide it?
The minister said Imran had given a fatwa (edict) about why offshore companies were formed and this was to avoid paying taxes, to hide looted money and to deposit wealth through money-laundering.
He wanted to know why Imran made no mention of his own offshore company while filing his nomination papers, which he began filing after the 2002 elections. Before that, her never filed tax returns, whereas every Pakistani passport holder had to declare his assets and pay taxes.
The minister charged the PTI chairman was involved in tax evasion and money-laundering. He asked Imran to also give some justification to the nation for doing politics after all these revelations in his next news conference.
He contended that Imran had been talking about civil disobedience, attacking PTV and even occupying the Prime Minister House. “He will have to give a justification now. Imran has been whipping all with the offshore companies issue and even demanded the prime minister’s resignation and made a mention of his name hundreds of times despite the fact that he owned no offshore company,” he regretted.
Pervaiz claimed that the PTI chief had been earlier saying that he had nothing to do with any offshore company and also never made its documented mention anywhere. He asked why Imran did not disclose his offshore company and only confirmed it after publication of a news item about it.
The minister noted that the Chief Justice of Pakistan in his letter had also called for the identification of names of individuals, groups and companies to be investigated with regards to the Panama Papers. He asserted that Imran would have to give replies to questions not only in parliament but also before the commission.
Replying to questions, Pervaiz said the prime minister would give a policy statement on the issue of the Panama Papers in the National Assembly on Monday.
About former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s demand for the prime minister’s resignation, he questioned how many lawmakers his party had in parliament and had he contested any election, saying and he represented no one.
Meanwhile, Pervaiz Rashid said while talking to the News that the opposition parties would find answers to each and every question of theirs in the speech to be delivered by Nawaz Sharif in the Parliament.
He said it has been decided in principle that the prime minister in his upcoming speech would provide answers to all the questions being raised by the opposition parties in the context of the PanamaLeaks.
To a question, he said the prime minister believes in democratic norms and traditions, which advocate talks and negotiations to resolve political issues, adding, “The prime minister may extend the offer for talks to the opposition parties to resolve mutual differences over the ToRs for the Judicial Commission.”
The minister said a high level consultative meeting under the chairmanship of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was held on Saturday in which the participants prepared suggestions for the speech of the prime minister. He said the participants candidly shared their views after which different points have been marked that would be forwarded to the prime minister, adding, “We will just forward our suggestions because it is up to the prime minister to take a final decision about the content of his speech in parliament.”
Pervaiz said the participants of the meeting first pointed out all the questions being raised by the opposition parties and then discussed in detail each and every aspect of these questions.
“The speech of the prime minister in parliament will depict his full commitment and dedication towards strengthening democratic values. As far as the relevant record and documents are concerned, the prime minister and his family members will provide all the details to the Judicial Commission,” he said.
To a question, he said the government wants transparent investigation into the Panama Leaks that is why it is taking every step to ensure the judicial commission works with the required powers and complete assistance from all the provincial and federal departments.
