Imran Khan facing charges of embezzlement in party’s funds: Pervaiz Rashid

Lahore: Minister for Information,Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Friday
said not a single word was mentioned in Panama papers against the Prime Minister and his family’s involvement in any illegal act or harm to country’s economy and its democracy.

Participating in the debate, he said it was only Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and its leadership who offered themselves for accountability on every occasion. The country’s religion,
constitution and ethics allow business, he added.

Pervaiz Rashid said that it was a good addition to parliamentary traditions that parliamentarians were discussing this issue in the parliament. Country’s constitution does not stop anyone to go to Supreme
Court of Pakistan to probe Panama leaks. People, who were portraying off-shore companies as a sin had
themselves invested three million dollars in the same off-shore companies in the year 2010.They do not accept the decisions of the commission constituted to probe election rigging allegations.

He said that discussion on Panama leaks in Parliament is a healthy new parliamentary tradition. Legislators have opined their point of view on the issue.He said that after examining the Panama Papers, he found not a single word against the PML-N, Prime Minister and his family that they had committed any illegal act and  violated any law. He said that only names of off-shore companies were mentioned
in the Panama Papers. He said that off-shore companies could be opened with other
names but the Prime Minister’s sons used their own names and did not hide any thing.

Rashid said that Hassan Nawaz was studying in England and could not come back due to dictatorial regime. “Hassan was not allowed to come back while Hussain was also expelled from the country,” he added. In the past, he said it was also alleged that kick-back from mega-projects was used for running personal businesses adding that former PPP parliamentarian Naseerullah Babar once accused Shahbaz Sharif for receiving commission in Korea in Motorway project for building his business empire.
But it was also on the record that Naseerullah Babar apologized to Shahbaz Sharif for his false statement on this august forum.

He said that despite the fact that no allegation against Hassan and Hussain Nawaz were made yet they presented themselves for accountability as the opposition could use that issue for politics.

The Minister said that in Pakistan nobody dared to present themselves for accountability except the PML-N. The minister said that Imran Khan was facing charges of embezzlement in party’s funds in Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and was hiding  behind the court decision.He said that Imran Khan was also hiding behind the cancer patients for investing charity fund of Shoukat Khanum Hospital in off-shore companies.
Pervaiz said return of three million dollars investment of endowment fund in off-shore companies was not mentioned in the balance sheet of Shoukat Khanum Hospital. He said that PTI government was involved in embezzlement of funds in trees plantation.
The minister said that commission was being established under a retired judge of Supreme Court who has experience and vast knowledge of 25 years. About term of reference (ToRs), he said that ToRs would
determine whether these off-shore companies harmed the interest of the country, involved in mal-practices or violated the law of the land.

The minister said that the Constitution of the country allowed every citizen to approach the apex court to take up the Panama leaks. He said that unfortunately Imran Khan had not accepted the findings of a judicial commission headed by the Chief Justice to probe election rigging.

He said decision of the commission headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan to probe alleged rigging in general election of 2013  was not accepted. Panama papers do not carry any information which hurts
prestige of the Prime Minister. Leaks have only information about his family’s business, which is allowed by constitution, law and religion.