Where did Shahbaz spend Rs9,000 billion in nine years, asks Imran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday said that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif must give the details where he he had spent Rs9,000 billion in the last nine years.

He expressed concern over the ‘delay’ on behalf of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in initiating proceedings on a petition filed by a party member against Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif.

The PTI Deputy Secretary General, Usman Dar, had filed the petition in the anti-graft body, seeking disqualification of Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif for hiding the fact of holding an Iqama or foreign work permit in his nomination papers.

The PTI chairman directed Usman Dar to lead a delegation to NAB and hold a meeting with its Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal over the matter. Usman Dar had called on the PTI chairman here at Chairman’s Secretariat, Islamabad.

Expressing concerns over the alleged delay in proceedings, the PTI chairman stated that it was beyond his understanding as to why the anti-graftbody was allegedly dragging its feet on a matter instead of launching investigation, despite undeniable proofs against Asif.

Imran Khan emphasised that Usman Dar could present proofs of banking transactions against Asif and his wife. “The accountability of those who are looting the taxpayers’ money is necessary. After the judiciary, the nation’s hopes are associated with the accountability institution,” said the PTI chairman. He was hopeful that the National Accountability Bureau would soon initiate legal proceedings against Khawaja Asif.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has condemned the use of force against teachers protesting in the capital for regularisation of their services and for the release of their nine-month unpaid salaries and has demanded immediate release of all arrested teachers.

PTI senior leader and Member National Assembly Asad Umer has lashed out at the federal government, saying that teaching was the most respectable and noble profession in the world, but, unfortunately in our country, teachers are being humiliated and baton-charged by the government when they raise voice for their rights and cases have been registered against them. “It is extremely unfortunate, he said, that our country’s most educated class has been struggling for its rights for more than four years,” he maintained.

Coming hard on the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry for failing to end the miseries of teachers, Asad Umer said that PML-N government was hell bent upon depriving the teachers from their basic rights.

He asked Tariq Fazal Chaudhry as to why the government was not giving heed to the teachers’ genuine demands. Asad Umer said that Islamabad’s educational institutions already were suffering due to shortage of teachers.

“The government, instead of using force against teachers, must end their miseries and facilitate them. “PTI stands firmly with the teachers raising voice for their rights and demands immediate release of all arrested teachers,” said PTI leader.