Zardari’s acquittal is a deal, says Imran

LAHORE: PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday termed Asif Ali Zardari’s acquittal in the NAB references a proof of the deal struck between the PPP and PML-N “in the garb of Charter of Democracy” and said the appointment of a monitoring judge for accountability court was necessary. Imran claimed that even Nawaz Sharif would have received a clean chit if the Panama Papers case had not been heard by the Supreme Court.

Addressing a press conference, he said both the PPP and PML-N had always used NAB as a tool to protect their corruption and quash cases against them.He said Nawaz was posing a question “why I was ousted”, whereas the entire nation knew that he was unable to prove his money trail before the joint investigation team (JIT) and the Supreme Court besides giving any concrete answer regarding his assets in London.

The PTI chairman said after the acquittal of Zardari in the NAB references, his party couldn’t trust the prosecution process.Imran also demanded the ECP to allow him to participate in the NA-120 by-poll campaign and questioned in which capacity Maryamsummoned a meeting at the Chief Minister's House.

He said the NA-120 by-election was, in fact, a case of PTI fighting the entire state machinery and condemned the alleged harassment of women activists "at the hands of PML-N-backed elements”.

He said the PML-N ‘Gullus’ were once again busy harassing the PTI woman workers but the party activists would combat them with full force. Imran demanded the Punjab police cheif to provide security to the PTI workers or the party would go for legal action against him.

Once again expressing dissatisfaction over the treatment being meted out to his party by the ECP, Imran said he wasn’t a public-office holder but even then he wasn’t allowed to go for election campaign in NA-120.

Similarly, he said party leader Shafqat Mehmood was MNA and he too wasn’t allowed to participate in the election campaign, whereas Maryam, daughter of the former prime minister, summoned a meeting at the CM House. He demanded the ECP TO take notice of "all these violations”.

Responding to a question about the threats by US President Donald Trump to Pakistan, Imran stated that they were a challenge for new Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the government must take up the matter before the United Nations.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan visited the residence of Maj Ali Salman Nasir who was martyred in Bajaur and expressed condolence to his family. He paid rich tribute to martyred army officer and said the entire nation felt proud of the brave soldier like him.