Fresh proof of corruption found against Sharifs: PM

Tariq Butt

Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed that the federal and provincial governments have dug out new proof of corruption and money laundering against the Sharif family members and fresh cases would be instituted against them in the days to come.

He was addressing the joint parliamentary meeting of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers and allies during his visit to Lahore.

Following the meeting, Punjab Housing Minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed told reporters that the cases the Sharifs (Nawaz and Shahbaz) are facing at present are old, now new cases against them will be opened. He said the prime minister has tasked the ministers with exposing the corruption committed by the Sharifs.

Rasheed said the prime minister has ordered immediate action against drug dealers and withdrawal in increase of medicines in 72 hours.

Earlier, Imran ordered stern action against corrupt and inefficient bureaucrats and directed his ministers to lead from the front in Punjab. He also promised a revolution in Punjab through an effective local government system being introduced by the PTI government.

The prime minister said the prevailing problems faced by Pakistan have been inherited by the PTI government and it isn’t responsible for them. He said it is the result of the flawed policies of the previous government that pushed the country towards problems and added that the country has a tough time ahead.

He said the volume of foreign debt increased multiple times in the five-year tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government due to which the entire nation is suffering. He urged his stalwarts to gear up for a testing time that could continue for next four to five months after which the situation would improve.

A participant said that the prime minister regretted his decision of accepting Shahbaz Sharif as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. He stated that neither he made any compromise in the past nor would he make any compromise in the future over corrupt elements.

The participant said some of the PTI lawmakers lodged protest over the attitude of bureaucracy and prevailing corruption in different departments. One of them accused the deputy commissioner of Multan of promoting corruption.

In a separate development, Imran said that biggest auction of plots by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) of Islamabad resulted in the highest ever return of Rs11.28 billion.

In a Twitter post, he said that it  highlights a vote of confidence in future of Pakistan’s economy. He said  the development also reveals how much money has been lost in the past because of non-transparent and corrupt practices.

He was referring to CDA auction of residential and commercial plots in Islamabad which took place between April 8 and 11.

The auction has been called the most profitable in CDA’s history, even though real estate has been in a tailspin over the last few months due to Pakistan’s economic condition and a government drive against tax evaders.

CDA spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali said record returns for the public sector were “highly encouraging for us.”

The second most profitable auction, in May 2017, earned Rs11.19b. This one got Rs11.28b.

According to the CDA, the proceedings were supervised by an auction committee led by Member Finance Dr Fahad Aziz. The spokesperson said the auction as “managed and conducted in a well organised, open and transparent manner.”

Ali said there was prolonged bidding throughout the auction. He said there was an impressive gathering of investors and the public, who participated in the auction enthusiastically.

CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed said the authority will now carry out a number of development projects around the city, including the expansion of roads and development work in stalled sectors.

The CDA auctioned 31 residential plots in developed sectors in the first two days, and 23 out of 38 commercial plots put on auction were sold in the last two days.

The CDa statement said the auction of 25 plots on the first day generated Rs1.02bn, six residential plots were sold for Rs230 million on the second day, eight commercial plots were sold for Rs4.05bn on the third day and 15 commercial plots were auctioned for Rs5.98bn on the fourth day.