Nawaz Sharif cannot escape accountability: Imran Khan

CHITRAL: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was using his illness as an excuse to prolong his stay in United Kingdom to escape criticism over the Panama Papers revelations.

“He would have to return home one day and face the criticism. The PTI would not let him escape accountability at any cost,” he told reporters here during his visit to Chitral.

Imran Khan said the Prime Minister didn’t have the courage to face criticism.He said the PTI would take him to task on the Panama Papers leaks issue and make him pay for concealing the facts about his family’s assets. “Nawaz Sharif’s decline has started. He should see the writing on the wall. He could be behind bars or would flee the country like he did in 1999,” the PTI chairman declared.

He maintained the opposition was united and was on the same page against Nawaz Sharif over the Panama Papers leaks. He said the PTI would launch a protest campaign against the government after Eidul Fitr.

Expressing dissatisfaction over non-repair of the infrastructure destroyed by the flash floods, he said the restoration work done so far was unsatisfactory.He said he would ask Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to announce a special package for Chitral soon after he returned Peshawar. “We will also convene a meeting of the international donors in Islamabad as well and collect funds for rehabilitation and restoration of damaged infrastructure in this remote mountainous district,” he promised.

About the extension in the stay of Afghan refugees in the country, Imran Khan said the refugees were oppressed and helpless and cannot return and live in their respective areas in Afghanistan due to the poor law and order situation and other reasons.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would continue to extend help to Afghan refugees on humanitarian grounds and make their stay comfortable.Responding to a question, he said all the Afghan refugees were not involved in crime. He added that those involved in criminal activity would be deported.

Earlier, Imran Khan distributed cheques of trophy hunting among various community organisations.Trophy hunting is the selective hunting of wild game for human recreation.