Imran hasn’t proved Rs10b bribe offer by Shahbaz: Punjab spokesman

LAHORE: Punjab government spokesman Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has already presented himself for accountability time and again but on the other hand, Imran Khan is habitual liar and hiding behind false excuses instead of facing the court.
The spokesman while addressing a press conference Wednesday in connection with the PTI chief’s failure to either prove his Rs10 billion bribe allegation, said the chief minister had sought clarification from Imran Khan before filing defamation case but the latter failed to do so after accusing chief minister of offering him Rs10 billion bribe.
“We are calling him again and again to come to court and reply over his baseless allegations, but as usual PTI chairman is hiding behind false excuses after blaming the CM,” he added. He is not appearing before the court even after a period of four months since his allegation that Shahbaz Sharif had offered him Rs10 billion for withdrawing from Panama case.
After serving legal notice, defamation suit had been filed in the civil court. According to law, Imran Khan was bound to submit reply before the honourable court within 30 days but he has been using delaying tactics on one pretext or the other. Till date his advocate has sought adjournment for the sixth time.
The spokesman reminded that Imran has been served with various court notices for appearance in court but in vain and now through media, we are again demanding him to reply over his baseless allegation against a leader of national stature and chief executive of a province.
He was of the view that Imran is the champion of “politics of sit-ins” and pioneer of ‘panic creator’ in a peaceful political environment. The spokesman further said record of 56 Punjab government companies has been submitted to Auditor General of Pakistan for audit. These companies were established for better delivery of services and are working according to book.
To a query regarding NAB taking up the matter of over 50 companies established by the Punjab government, he said the NAB has legal right to start investigations against any major financial transaction but it does not mean that any irregularity is proved. The Punjab chief minister has always encouraged transparency in all government departments including public sector companies and no irregularity will be tolerated in this regard, he concluded.