News Analysis |
Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again said that his government was about to launch the biggest operation against the money laundering. He was speaking to a journalist at his office when he said that his government will never compromise on corruption at any cost. Interestingly, PM Khan also said that the US State Department said that annually money laundering worth $10 billion takes place from Pakistan.
PM Khan also talked about the initial months of the government and challenges it was facing. He said that the initial four months of government were a great difficulty as electricity, gas, and Pakistan Internal Airlines were all in the loss. PM also added that the country is still facing issues but it is not a crisis situation, adding that the biggest issue is of disorder in the country.
Like Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, PPP co-chairman is indirectly threatening the government of a tough and more aggressive opposition if it does not offer an NRO or a deal to the corrupt politicians in the country.
Moreover, Mr. Khan also said that “since yesterday we have been hearing hue and cry from Sindh,” in an apparent jibe aimed at the Pakistan People’s Party whose leaders are facing an inquiry in relation to fake accounts.
It is worth mentioning here that following a series of actions in wake of the JIT report, the federal government on Friday released a list of 172 suspects whose names have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). Top Pakistan Peoples Party leaders including party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur are among those placed on the no-fly list. Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and former chief minister Qaim Ali Shah are also included in the list.
Read more: NAB goes after PPP in Sindh, pledges to be tough on…
It is important to mention here that recently PM Imran Khan claimed that he was approached by Sharifs to sign a deal to give them some relief. The proposal, according to Mr. Khan, was rejected by him. Interestingly, Prime Minister Imran Khan made it clear during his maiden speech to the nation that whenever powerful and corrupt people will be brought before the law there will be propaganda against the government.
A narrative will also be established as if the democracy was under threat, he added. Similar observations have been made by the information on Tuesday. He maintained that the government is facing and will face more challenges by the political opponents for allowing the NAB to independently conduct inquiries into financial matters of those who have been holding the public offices.
Top Pakistan Peoples Party leaders including party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur are among those placed on the no-fly list.
PM Khan repeated his stance in his address to the nation on October 24th, saying that the corrupt leaders in the country are seeking an NRO which is only a daydream. “I want to give them a message: ‘open your ears and hear this: you can come out on the streets. We will give you containers and give you food. You can do whatever you want in the assemblies… [But] no one will get an NRO’.”
Like Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, PPP co-chairman is indirectly threatening the government of a tough and more aggressive opposition if it does not offer an NRO or a deal to the corrupt politicians in the country. Since NAB is working independently, it is threatening the system developed by such ‘criminals’. The government has, on the other hand, made it clear that there is zero tolerance on the matters related to corruption and misuse of authority.
Read more: Is Asif Ali Zardari afraid of accountability?
As indicated by PM Khan, a narrative is being shaped that anti-corruption agenda of the PTI is not in the best interest of the country. PM Khan has however made it clear that there will be no compromise on the process of accountability.