Pakistan's default won't impact 'gang of thieves' or their interests: Imran Khan

Criticising the Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) coalition government in the Centre, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that the "gang of thieves" will remain unaffected if the country defaults as it won't damage their interests.

Khan, addressing a presser via video link Sunday, said that the "gang of thieves" don't care about Pakistan's economic collapse as they possess properties worth billions of dollars abroad.

The deposed prime minister linked the rise in the value of US dollars with the country's economy, stating that the greenback will further shoot up and there won't be any more foreign investment in the country if it defaults.

“A group of thieves has been imposed on us,” the PTI chief said, adding that the gang has been stealing national wealth for the past 30 years. He also said they were laundering the looted money abroad via illegal means including hundi and hawala.

A day earlier, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated that the “economy is going in the right direction” and it would “not default”. He added that no more experiments could be done with the country’s economy as Pakistan had gone through its “darkest economic periods” during the previous government’s tenure.

People came to know how the Sharif family was laundering the looted money when the Hudaibia Paper Mills case surfaced, Khan added. The Sharif family’s “front man” Ishaq Dar recorded his statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and revealed the details of the money laundering.

On surging 'default risk'

The PTI chairman warned that Pakistan’s default risk has surged to 100% as the 88% of local investors do not believe in the incumbent government.

As long as this government lasts, the country’s economic instability will increase, warned Khan. “They will leave the country whenever they get a chance.”

Referring to the alleged horse-trading at Sindh House in the past, the PTI leader said that the Constitution suit them only when it benefits them, otherwise they have always flouted the law.

He urged the national security institutions to look into the ongoing situation in the country.

He also accused the Election Commission of Pakistan and the establishment of supporting the ruling alliance led by the PML-N during the recent by-polls in the country.

“Maryam Nawaz reached [homeland] first, then Ishq Day was dry cleaned and now Suleman Shehbaz would be dry cleaned,” Imran Khan said.

“We all knew who gave them NRO-II,” Khan said and asked if Constitution allows NRO-II.

The PTI chairman feared that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari would not go into elections.

'Salman Shahbaz drycleaned'

Reacting to Suleman Shehbaz’s return to the homeland, the former prime minister said: “An absconder responsible for billions in corruption & money laundering, Salman Shahbaz, is drycleaned & returns to Pakistan.”

Sharing a hadith on his Twitter handle, Khan wrote if anyone wants to understand why Pakistan's economy is now a disaster, just two incidents provide the answer.

He said that Senator Azam Swati, 75, has been subjected to custodial torture, beaten up in front of his grandchildren, his house vandalised and sealed, and he is being dragged from one province to another under multiple “false FIRs” registered against him in total “violation of all laws and basic human rights” enshrined in the Constitution.

“In contrast an absconder responsible for billions in corruption & money laundering, Salman Shahbaz, is drycleaned & returns to Pakistan,” he added.

Warning to ECP

Addressing the new military leadership in the presser, the former premier said: “The new regime which has recently taken over should think about the country for God’s sake. National security institutions should see what is happening with the country.”

He also stressed that the nation and army go hand in hand, not separately.

Commenting on the matter of his disqualification at the Elections Commission of Pakistan, the PTI leader said that the ECP will earn more “humiliation if it disqualifies” him.

“The Election Commission has no power to disqualify me. Even if they do so, will the nation vote for anyone else?” Khan said questioning the reputation of the ruling coalition in the Centre.

While speaking regarding the several cases he is confronted with following his government’s ouster in April, Khan said that the incumbent government wants to disqualify him through “fabricated cases” and spoke about challenging them in the Supreme Judicial Council. “We have gone against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in the Supreme Judicial Council.”

The PTI chief, on October 18, filed a reference against the CEC in the SJC for his removal deeming him unfit to hold the constitutional post. Khan and other PTI leaders have repeatedly demanded that the chief election commissioner resigns from his post and the ECP be reconstituted before the next general elections.

The party had earlier filed a reference in July, but withdrew in August soon after to add more evidence to it against the commissioner.

Earlier this week, PTI Senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry said the ECP and CEC wanted to disqualify Khan. "But the people will not accept the decisions taken behind closed doors. [The government] should accept the people's decision and move forward. There can be no stability without new elections," he said.

The CEC, on the other hand, said that the ECP neither has any favourites nor is it against anyone. "Action was taken against those who tried to create chaos and from workers to party chiefs for violating the code of conduct," he added.

The PTI chief also expressed concerns regarding the treatment meted out to Azam Swati during his incarceration.

“Given what is happening with Azam Swati, I have never seen such circumstances in the country. In which society does a senator can’t make his viewpoint,” he added.

Khan reiterated his statement regarding Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi giving him the authority to dissolve the provincial assembly. “Parvez Elahi has given me full authority to dissolve the assembly.”