Imran Khan accuses general (retd) Bajwa of blocking conclusion of corruption cases against ‘thieves’ during his govt’s tenure
LAHORE, Dec 16 (SABAH): Former premier and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan Friday said that there should be no sacred cow and the rule of law is important in the country.
While addressing lawyers’ convention in Lahore via video link, Imran Khan stressed the rule of law in the country and termed it one and only solution to end the crisis in the country. He said that there is a rule of power in the country instead of law. He added that the rule of law gives a level playing field to all citizens while the country would not achieve prosperity and development goals due without rule of power.
The former premier was of the view that it is unfortunate to see around 750,000 skilled persons leaving the country during the last seven months. He alleged that the current rulers were given NRO 2 and cases against the thieves’ were dissolved. He vowed to continue his struggle against the corrupt elements in the country.
Imran Khan accused former army chief general (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa of controlling the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying he blocked the conclusion of corruption cases against “thieves” during his government’s tenure.
“NAB would tell us that the cases were matured but they were not being allowed to conclude them,” the deposed premier said.
“General Bajwa was not allowing them [NAB}… he was sitting behind and would decide who should be released [from NAB custody] or suppressed,” he added.
Imran Khan said the then opposition leader and incumbent prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif’s money laundering case was an “open and shut” one. “His [PM Shehbaz] case was not listed for hearing… I was prime minister but I was completely helpless.”
The former PM said law of jungle was prevailing in the country “as all the thieves have gathered and now shutting down their corruption cases”. Imran Khan reiterated his allegations that his government was toppled by “buying conscience” of the lawmakers.
“All segments of the society are scared and the most concerning figure is that 750,000 people have left the country as they have become hopeless and lost confidence in the system after what happened in the last seven months,” he remarked.
Imran Khan said only the rule of law can lift the country out of prevailing “quagmire” without which the country’s economy can never prosper “neither can we become an Asian tiger overnight”.
Meanwhile Imran Khan has said the law allowing extension in the tenure of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) must be abolished.
According to a private TV channel, at a meeting with columnists and analysts, he said former COAS General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa mocked the country by giving NRO-II [to the PDM] adding the PTI would not hold talks with the looters of billions of rupees. “Negotiations could be held only on the date of fresh elections”, he added.
He said he was expecting the new army leadership to stay ‘neutral’ adding that institution could deliver only while staying in the ambit of law. “I do not hold personal grudge against anyone, instead I am concerned about people”, he added.
He averred that those thinking assemblies would not be dissolved must wait for his tomorrow’s speech adding there was no rift between Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the PTI over the matter.
Talking about the date of dissolution of assemblies, he said the assemblies would be dissolved in December adding there was no way to country’s prosperity other than fresh elections.
It is pertinent to mention here that Imran Khan announced to unveil date for the dissolution of the assemblies on December 17 in a key gathering on Lahore’s Liberty Chowk. He ended the confusion regarding the PTI’s stance on the dissolution of the assemblies.
Meanwhile Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the nation would never forget the day of 16 December when terrorists attacked innocent children of APS Peshawar and their teachers.
In a statement on Friday, PTI Chairman said that 16 December was a day, when one of the most horrific acts of terrorism in our history happened.
Imran Khan said that the terrorists attacked innocent children of APS Peshawar and their teachers, adding that the nation would never forget the tragic incident. However, PTI Chairman stated: “It is also the day when we came together as a nation and resolved to take on and defeat terrorism.”