Amnesty scheme is for looters: Asad Umar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s senior leader MNA Asad Umar has castigated the government for the amnesty scheme and said that it was a joke with the nation and an open declaration that the state was helpless before the rich and mighty and could only take on the poor.

Addressing a news conference on Friday, he claimed that during the last six years, four such schemes were announced with the promise that it was a one-time exemption and only during the last scheme, Rs297 billion black money was whitened and the nation could get only Rs800 million under this scheme. The PTI leader alleged that the amnesty scheme was only to open doors for those, who had looted the nation’s money and indulged in corruption to return and dole out something in the government’s begging bowl.

“They should tell the nation, what benefit the nation had got in lieu of four such schemes in the last six years. These schemes are for the corrupt elements and money-launderers,” he went on to allege.

Questioning the timing of the scheme, the PTI leader charged that the initiative was totally wrong and a joke with the people of Pakistan. He asserted that the PTI outrightly rejected it and would resist it at every forum.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said on Friday if the circulating doc is correct, Nawaz Sharif and family, Ishaq Dar and family, Zardari and family -- all of them can take advantage of this scheme to benefit tax evaders, asset concealers and money launderers.

“The questionable intent of this scheme is also reflected in the confusion deliberately caused by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi verbally referring to the scheme not being applicable to politically exposed persons while the doc being circulated refers to holders of public office and public servants," he said in a series of tweets.

Imran asserted, “PTI rejects yet another amnesty scheme which is one more brazen attempt by Abbasi to save criminals. Why would PM seek to do this just 45 days before govt term ends? & why just 2 weeks before budget? This is a tax on honest people - a slap on the face of honest taxpayers”.