ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that he was disqualified merely on holding an Iqama but Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan was cleared of allegations of money laundering despite his confession of wrong doing.
“Despite all investigations, no proof of money laundering was found against me and I was disqualified for holding an Iqama. But Imran Khan despite his tendering an apology for wrong doing was cleared of charges,” he said talking to media in front of Accountability Court in Islamabad.
“How could be a person cleared of charges who confesses wrong doing and tenders unconditional apology while a sitting prime minister be disqualified even when no allegation is proved against him,” he added.
Nawaz Sharif said Imran Khan had confessed transaction of millions of pounds for construction of house as well as investments in Niazi Services.
“But our courts cleared him of charges despite his confession. It is matter of record and I am not beating about the bush,” he said.
The former prime minister said if Imran Khan had not committed any crime why he had to tender unconditional apology before the court.
“He had confessed about his crime and money to which the case pertained to, was either pilfered or siphoned off or it was money laundering. In any case, it was a crime but he was declared truthful and righteous,” Nawaz Sharif said.
Contrary to it, he said, an elected prime minister was disqualified on an imaginative salary and Iqama that in other terms was a Visa.
“Now the nation has to decide on this matter and the nation would definitely give its verdict in 2018 elections.”
Referring to NA-120 by-election, Nawaz Sharif said Imran had claimed after the court decision against him (Nawaz) that the said election would be a referendum against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
“But Maryam led campaign in NA-120 forced Imran Khan to eat dust. You (Imran) lost the referendum in NA-120 and 2018 election would also prove to be a referendum against you,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif said it could not work that one person was pushed to wall and other was bailed out and then it was stated that the justice had been done.
“All this is moving forward through a strategy. But, the time has changed and it is 2018 and not 1947, 1958, 1969 or 1977. Time has changed, the nation is awake and we shall have to meet obligations of present times,” he added.
When asked about bail of Imran Khan from anti-terrorism court, Nawaz Sharif said there were many secrets in that matter and he would inform the nation about it.
Nawaz said Imran had been making hue and cry by playing up rigging mantra, but was any rigging found in any constituency. “What kind of rigging he had been talking about, I could not understand.”
The PML-N Chief sought any solid reason behind his summoning to courts and trying for the charges which were not proved against him during investigation.
When asked about his visit to Saudi Arabia, Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were brotherly Countries having cordial relations since former’s inception.
“We enjoy mutual bonds of affection and these bonds are cementing with every passing day,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif said his visit to Saudi Arabia was not a ‘wonder of the world.’
“People who nurtured rumors were spiteful not to me but also to friendly relations between the two Countries. Their conduct was highly irresponsible,” he added.
