Multan metro project: Imran slams NAB for not moving against ‘fraudsters’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Wednesday claimed, referring to Multan Metro Bus Project that China had confirmed cross border financial fraud but it was disturbing that NAB was not moving against this misuse of taxpayers’ money.

In a series of tweets, CEO of Capital Engineering made a statement before Chinese investigation that the company was actually controlled by Sharif family and that CEO Capital Engineering Faisal Subhan was later picked by the Punjab police and pressurised to change his statement.

“Would NAB take custody of those Pakistani nationals involved in cross border financial fraud as identified by Chinese? Equally disturbing is NAB not moving against this misuse of taxpayers’ money by the PML-N - a clear case of corruption by the government. NAB chief should immediately take action on this,” he noted. He wrote that to top of it all, part of this largesse - from SDG funds - is being doled out by disqualified PM Sharif’s son-in-law Safdar. Again why ECP is allowing this brazen flouting of democratic electoral norms.

“Inexplicable why ECP has not moved against PML-N for outright pre-poll rigging in the form of Rs54b being given to PML-N parliamentarians primarily from the Punjab, in the last 6 months. This is a complete negation of democracy & fair elections,” he said.

PTI, which has been strongly opposing family politics while hitting out at Bhutto family and Sharif family, has nominated disqualified party secretary general Jehangir Khan Tareen’s son Ali Tareen to run for NA-154 in a by-poll.

“The decision has been taken informally during informal consultations. No formal meeting was held to decide on who should contest the by-election. We received name of Ali from Lodhran chapter of PTI and then it was endorsed,” said a senior party member, when approached by The News in this connection. Till the filing of this report, no formal announcement was made by the party’s media department. Ali’s nomination was announced by himself in a message, available on social media.

In reaction to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s departure for Saudi Arabia, PTI Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry hoped that unlike the past, Saudi authorities would not provide shelter to the corrupt Sharifs. He added the Pakistani nation would welcome Saudi Arabia’s cooperation in elimination of corruption from Pakistan.

Fawad said Pakistanis were keen to know about the aims and objectives of Shahbaz visit to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, PTI has demanded immediate resignation from Gilgit–Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman over the ongoing crisis in the area. The shutter down strikes and protests by traders, political and civil society activists entered seventh day despite below minus 5 temperature in most parts of the region.

“Federal government and provincial government of Gilgit-Baltistan are oblivious to growing uncertainty among the people,” said Fawad in a statement.

He slammed federal and provincial governments and said that people of Gilgit-Baltistan had been on the roads since December 21 calling on the government to withdraw all taxes imposed in Gilgit-Baltistan under GB Tax Adaptation Act 2012.

“PML-N government shut eyes to the crisis in GB like it did on the matter of finality of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The strike entered seventh day despite extreme weather conditions in most parts of Gilgit-Baltistan while GB CM is relishing in Islamabad, “he alleged.