ISLAMABAD: Professor Ahsan Iqbal, the minister for planning, development, and special initiatives, stated on Wednesday that Imran Khan’s arrest was the result of the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) investigation into a case of graft and that the government had nothing to do with it.
This arrest was not made at the government’s request and was not motivated by political victimization. Speaking to foreign media in this country, the minister said, “It is the arrest made by the NAB, an independent institution that is supposed to look into the corruption cases committed in the country. He clarified that the custody was in accordance with “proper legal procedures and lawful authority” and that the arrest was made pursuant to an arrest warrant that had been properly reviewed by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
But unfortunately, Ahsan Iqbal said, the response that was given by the followers of Imran Khan brought great embarrassment for him and the party.
“The scenes that came on the media of loot and plunder are most deplorable because Mr Khan had been championing throughout his career that he stands for the rule of law. He (the PTI chairman) had been lecturing the people of Pakistan that what is the rule of law in the Western democracies.”
The minister said the PTI workers showed examples of the worst fascist response that was ever witnessed in the country’s history, adding “This is the worst kind of demagoguery and fascism that is being demonstrated by a leader whose rise to fame was sports. As a sportsman, he ought to be championing sportsman spirit, tolerance and respecting the rule of law.”
Contrary to it, he said, Imran Khan chose the path of spreading anarchy, chaos and destruction in the country only to protect himself from accountability.
The minister reminded that the PTI chairman said on a number of occasions that if there was any case against him, he would voluntarily present himself before the authorities for investigation.
“This case, in which Khan has been arrested by NAB, is a matter of graft, embezzlement and corruption of £160 million
(Approximately Rs 60 billion)
Sharing details of the NAB case against PTI chairman Imran Khan, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said the £160 million which was confiscated by the UK’s National Crime Agency on money-laundering charges from a Pakistan real estate tycoon.
“Mr Imran Khan, under a fraudulent deal of self-benefit, instead of deposing the recovered amount in the national exchequer, he allowed that amount to be deposited in a State Bank of Pakistan to settle the dues of the same person who was fined £160 million… This is the worst kind of corruption as he did this to gain personal benefits.”
He said everyone knew that Imran Khan established a trust, Al-Qadir University, with his and spouse’s name as owners and got the benefit of a huge chunk of land. “There are also audio recordings which talk of some jewellery gifts that Mr Imran Khan and his wife got from the same person,” he added, terming it a ‘big case’.
The minister said the PTI chairman, under a malafide intention, allowed that money to be paid back to the same person, who was found guilty of money laundering, for his own personal benefit.
“If such a case happens in Western countries whether it is US or UK , what will the law do, if there is a case against any prime minister or head of any government is found to be indulging in corrupt practices; won’t the department concerned to investigate the case or proceed to arrest the accused, if he does not cooperate,” he put the question before foreign media persons.
Ahsan Iqbal said whenever Imran Khan was summoned by the courts, he had been appearing as per his own comfort, that too even after the issuance of the final warning [by the courts].
He said the PTI chairman had been defying the court orders and even went to the extent of threatening a lady judge.
The minister also recalled when representatives of security agencies went to Imran Khan’s home to just serve the court summons, “There was an attack of the security agencies, hurling petrol bombs and pelting stones which caused injuries to dozens of policemen. There were firearms along with the presence of known terrorists.”
The same episode was repeated by the violent PTI workers during an appearing of Imran Khan at the Judicial Complex recently, he said, adding ”We have a history. Imran Khan earlier attacked the Parliament and Pakistan Television building . . . Will the United State forgive those who attacked the capitol at the behest of ex-president Trump. No, they are all facing charges.”
The minister was of the view that Imran Khan should had been arrested when he launched an attack at the Parliament in 2014, describing his non-arrest a ‘big mistake.”
He deplored the PTI workers after Imran Khan’s arrest on Tuesday attacked state properties, security institution properties and public transport, and the worst of all was the burning of schools.
Ahsan Iqbal said no civilized society could tolerate this kind of behaviour, lawlessness and anarchy. “So the law has to take its course, and those indulged in these activities will be taken to the task. I assure you there is no political vendetta or victimization behind Imran’s arrest that was made under a lawful legal warrant.”
In the past, he said the top leadership of political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party had been facing ‘arrests and jails’ but their workers never resorted to such kind of violence exhibited by the PTI followers.
He said Imran Khan should prove his innocence before the court, if deemed his arrest unfair, instead of demonstrating unethical, fascist and non-democratic tendencies.
