Nawaz hid truth from NA, claims Imran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan criticised the prime minister on Monday for ‘not telling the truth in the National Assembly about his family’s offshore companies and assets’ and accused him of hiding the truth.

Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, Imran, who was flanked by other opposition leaders, contended that if there was nothing to hide, then why such a long story was told in the National Assembly, whereas the prime minister could have explained his position on the Panama Papers’ controversy within five minutes.He contended that being the Leader of the House in the National Assembly, the Prime Minister was answerable to the Parliament and it was incumbent upon him to have replied to the seven questions, asked by the joint opposition.

Showing documents to media, Imran alleged that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bought five flats from 1993 to 2004 in Britain. He claimed to have paid more tax than Nawaz in 1982.

PTI chairman explained that Nawaz bought first flat in June 1993, the second in July 1995 while the third and fourth was purchased in July 1996 and the fifth in 2004. He added that the Prime Minister should have at least showed a deed of purchase of Mayfair flats. It said that transferring wealth abroad from Pakistan was like destroying it.

He claimed that Prime Minister’s daughter Maryam was the owner of two off-shore companies, but the Prime Minister gifted her Rs2, 40,0000 and showed her dependent in his asset details and made no mention of her off-shore companies. Imran also noted that Nawaz average income of Rs22,600 from 1981 to 1993.

Imran challenged the Prime Minister to explain, how was the money transferred abroad, saying he had the idea of how much difficulties his family had to undergo. PTI chairman said that half of the prime minister’s speech was about his (Imran’s) lifestyle, whereas he had paid more tax than him in 1982.

Earlier, Imran vehemently dismissed the allegations that he concealed his assets through an offshore company, saying he was answerable before the parliament and that was why he qas back from London to explain his position in the legislature.

“It was a legal requirement to acquire property in the UK through a company so I had to buy the company. I never hid my assets, my flat which I sold to buy property in Bani Gala,” Imran maintained.

Imran claimed that he bought his London flat legally through the money on which he paid all the taxes. “I have all my tax returns paid since 1982,” he remarked.

“Nevertheless, I am ready to respond to the questions [about the offshore property],” Imran asserted. Imran said, “I am not among those who level counter allegations on their opponents instead of presenting the facts before the nation. I will first clarify myself. In democracy, a leader does not put counter allegations. I am accountable to the people.”

Imran said, “I want to discuss everything before the prime minister in the assembly. This is a great moment for democracy and it will further the democratic culture in the country if prime minister responds to the questions of the opposition in the assembly.”

“Times have changed. Pakistan has reached to a state that it can no longer be run the way it has been run previously. You cannot come in power, make illegal money and attack those who question you by running a smear campaign through a media house. No one can hide in the age of social media. Imran and Nawaz are equally accountable to the people,” he added.