Khan’s whitepaper prompts a response from the information minister, who questions the mantra of anti-corruption.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, the Federal Information Minister, responded to Imran Khan’s whitepaper criticising the current government, saying that if Khan’s anti-corruption mantra was true, why did he fail to prove any charges against opposition leaders during his three-and-a-half years in power?
Not only could corruption charges not be proven in Pakistani courts, but the UK’s National Crime Agency had concluded that Sharifs were not involved in money laundering, according to Aurangzeb.
She claimed that the PTI government sent the Anti Narcotics Force after Rana Sanaullah and presented the court with forged documents. According to her, Imran Khan directed the FIA director-general to file charges against Khawaja Asif.
Imran Khan’s political career is riddled with lies, according to the federal minister, and he repeated the same old and “worn out” allegations on Sunday.
Marriyum addressed a press conference shortly after Khan spoke, defending Farah Khan’s exorbitant wealth increase.
She claimed that Farah Khan alias Gogi’s wealth could be traced back to Khan’s home in Bani Gala, Punjab, because she was his frontperson. According to the information minister, Imran Khan appointed Buzdar as Punjab’s chief minister in order to receive bribes for transfers and postings.
“Under Shehzad Akbar, the Assets Recovery Unit was an asset-creating unit. “Where is Shehzad Akbar now?” she inquired, adding that Akbar’s plans were all designed to plunder wealth.
Khan not only sold state gifts from Toshakhana (gift repository), but also stole a government vehicle worth Rs150 million, according to Marriyum.
She also claimed that Imran Khan was given a pistol as a gift from a foreign country, which was not declared to the Toshakhana and thus was “smuggled” into Pakistan.
Marriyum compared this to the charges levelled against PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, claiming that Nawaz was removed from power on the basis of Iqama.
Nawaz was disqualified for life in 2017 after the Supreme Court ruled that he was entitled to a salary under a UAE iqama or work visa while still the prime minister and had not declared that income.
Imran Khan’s call for a long march on Islamabad at the end of May, according to Marriyum, signalled the end of his political career.
She claimed Khan’s rule harmed Pakistan’s relations with all Muslim countries, and that he now uses Masjid-e-Nabwi for political purposes. She stated that Khan was responsible for the entire planning process.
According to the information minister, the new government has set the country on a path of development, ensuring fuel for power plants in the first phase and now receiving LNG on May 7.
According to her, the government had instructed officials to ensure “zero load-shedding” during Eid days.