Not democracy but a mafia in danger: Imran Khan

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said on Sunday that Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) should stop taking democracy to cover their misdeeds, further adding that a mafia is in danger not democracy in the country.

Speaking at an event, he said that Senior PML-N leader Khuwaja Saad Rafique has made money through prize bonds, he cannot understand Panama case and PM Nawaz is putting democracy in a bid to save himself from accountability.

“Instead of giving replies to our question, the PML-N is saying that there is a conspiracy being hatched against them,” he said. “It’s a complete lie that there has been prior accountability of Sharif family. They signed a 10-year deal with Musharraf to stop him from pursuing cases against them.”

He said that Panama leaks case is a landmark as first time powerful are going through the process of accountability – this case is a foundation stone of ‘New Pakistan’.

Khan added that the Sharif`s were first-time given ministry for constructing the house of Gen (rtd) Jeelani and in the past PM Nawaz has tried to bribe former COAS Gen Asif Nawaz Janjua by gifting him a BMW.

The PTI chief said that the PM Sharif disrupted Benazir Bhutto`s government in the 1990s after taking money from Osama Bin Ladin.

Separately, speaking in an event Khawaja Saad Rafique implored the Joint Investigation Team, probing the Sharif family’s financial dealings abroad, to question itself whether it is trying to unearth the truth or just wandering aimlessly.

Addressing his political opponents, Rafique said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan might not want to indulge in politics of abuse and accusations but his close aides are advising him to do so.

Imran should learn the lessons that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party learnt after decades of rivalry, he added.

The minister said that his party would not stoop to the level of the PTI leaders and its young workers who do not realise the decades of hard work and sacrifices political leaders gave for democracy.

Mentioning examples from the past, Rafique said elected leaders have always been removed by “unconventional means”. “Why is that whenever PML-N is in power due to a popular vote, there are attempts to remove it through unconventional means?”

“People might disagree with our politics but even our opponents can’t deny we fought against civil and military dictatorships,” Rafique added.