This is just the beginning, big robbers’ time is up: Imran

ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Friday said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification by the Supreme Court marked the beginning of a new era where all the big robbers will be held accountable. “We are happy and hopeful today.

Pakistan has won today. Now we can also move forward as a nation,” Imran told a media conference after chairing a party consultative meeting here after the apex court judgement in the PanamaLeaks case.

Imran said a powerful prime minister, who had full control of state institutions for the last 30 years, was subjected to the rule of law by the Supreme Court.  

He said Nawaz Sharif's disqualification was the first step towards saving Pakistan.  "The Supreme Court’s decision has given hope to the people of Pakistan today,” he believed.

Emphasising the need for the rule of law, he contended that bombardment could neither ruin a nation, nor earthquakes or floods. “Germany and Japan were devastated during the world war but within ten years they were back on their feet. 

Corruption had brought Pakistan to a state where its survival was seen in obtaining more and more loans. A nation will only ruin after its judicial institutions are done away with. 

Third World countries, like Congo and Nigeria are blessed with resources but have no institutions, as they are also having their share in the loot and plunder of the national wealth,” he noted.

“I have no personal agenda against Nawaz Sharif; I have known his family for 40 years. He did not take anything of mine — he had done wrong to the people of this country and that was why we wanted him to be held accountable”.

"Historically, there have always been two kinds of laws prevailing in the country … one for the weak and poor and the other for the rich and powerful," he said. 

He said during his eight days in jail, he saw scores of poor prisoners held on minor charges while big thieves sat in the assemblies.

“Were those poor people rotting in jails responsible for laundering money in this country, or those crooks responsible for illegal practices, who live in houses worth billions of rupees?"

“The country was on the brink of destruction; we have never taken more loans than we took in a year. There is no money to run the country without loans. A US report says $10 billion is laundered and sent out of Pakistan each year," he said.

He said it had been established that the chief of the National Accountability Bureau and SECP chairman were involved in covering up Nawaz Sharif's corruption.  “Was their job to safeguard Pakistan’s interests or protect a corrupt family,” he asked.

“The ministers knew that money had been laundered and they also knew that Sharifs owned the London flats (from 1990s) and told a lie in the assembly and the apex court. Still they were seen outside the apex court and on the media siding with the corrupt family.”

He said corruption had played havoc with Pakistan.  “The rulers would go for mega projects, they pocketed commission and transferred it abroad. They would not provide funds for education, health and provision of clean drinking water. It was because of this that 45 per cent children had stunted growth and faced mental and height growth problems.

"I hope and pray that this victory (SC judgement) brings the nation together and we are able to save Pakistan and turn it into the country Allama Iqbal dreamed of and Quaid-e-Azam would be proud of," he said and urged the nation to continue the struggle for a better Pakistan.

He paid glowing tribute to the Supreme Court bench and said the JIT members were the heroes.  "What the JIT did in 60 days could not have been done even in the West," he remarked.

“With this investigation it is obvious now that we have the capability to put check corruption. The Supreme Court has proven that today. Everyone will be held accountable now. This is the beginning,” said Imran.

He said the PTI will hold a day of thanksgiving gathering at the Parade Ground on July 30 to celebrate Pakistan's victory against corruption. 

He instructed the party workers not to engage in any kind of actions causing chaos and wait for July 30 to celebrate the victory. Imran assured the workers that he would announce the party’s future course of action that day. 

He urged the masses to come out on that day, as the rule of law was being made a reality.  “A very good time is before us. The nation has woken up, none can stop us now,” he said.

He regretted that the ministers had targeted his charity Shaukat Khanum Memorial Truest Hospital for pushing the Panama case and charged they were enemies of the people of Pakistan, as the hospital extended cancer treatment to 75 per cent poor patients. “Even during wars, hospitals are spared,” he noted.

Imran claimed that despite having never held a public officer, he had provided all the details of his income and how the London flat was bought and then Banigala property purchased.

Imran paid tremendous tribute to anchorpersons and media houses for their contribution to the struggle for democracy.