Those who had power did not consider corruption serious crime, rues Imran Khan

PTI Chairman Imran Khan Monday rued that those who had the power did not consider the corruption a bad thing. He also warned the rulers that no matter where they go, the people of Pakistan will have “thieves and traitors” on their lips when they see them.

Addressing a rally ahead of the by-polls scheduled to be held on July 17 in Punjab in Lodhran, the former prime minister referred to the incident that took place with Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, where he was heckled and called a “thief” by supporters from the PTI last week.

“You (Iqbal) say that Imran Khan has taught people to misbehave. Ahsan Iqbal, this isn’t indecency, this is the truth: you are a thief,” Khan said as he lashed out at the federal minister.

Khan further told the gathering that Ahsan Iqbal and other PML-N leaders like him blindly follow party supremo Nawaz Sharif despite their “corruption”.

He said these people did not consider the corruption a bad thing.

Khan lashed out over urban flooding in Sindh said that the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) has failed to address rain-related issues even in Karachi during it 15 years of rule in the province.

He said that Karachi is Pakistan’s economic hub and for the past 14 years it is being ruled by a dacoit who has destroyed the city.

The PTI chairman claimed that after coming into power, the incumbent rulers had “stolen” Rs1,100 billion from the nation — and they would continue this since they are “corrupt”. “People will have two words on their lips wherever they see you: thieves and traitors. You overthrew a government with the backing of the United States,” the PTI chairman said.

“Cases against former president Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah were ready, but an “unknown power” prevented their prosecution,” Imran Khan said and added those who had the power did not consider corruption a bad thing.

Khan went on to say that during his tenure, he had prepared cases against Zardari, members of his family and that of Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah but an unidentified ‘power’ prevented them from being punished. “I tried everything to prosecute them, but whatever that power was did not let me,” he said, adding that he will disclose more details about it at a later time. “Those who had power, they did not think their (Zardari’s) theft was bad enough,” he said.

He said that Zardari and his “group” did not even prepare before the rains hit the province. "They used to mock former CM Punjab Usman Buzdar, however, water has not accumulated on roads in Lahore because of the underground tanks," Khan said, highlighting his party’s performance.

The former prime minister alleged that the money of people in Sindh is “moved to Dubai in the name of politics”.

Khan further said that he had prepared the cases against PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah. "I tried my best to punish these thieves," he added.

He said that Karachi is Pakistan’s economic hub and for the past 14 years it is being ruled by a dacoit who has destroyed the city.

The former PM said that Sindh’s money is plundered and sent to Dubai. “Cases against former president Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah were ready, but an “unknown power” prevented their prosecution,” Imran Khan said and added those who had the power did not consider corruption a bad thing.

Mentioning the names of former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and family and former president and PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari, the PTI chairman said that the country has been ruined by the two big plunderers.

Moving on, the PTI chairman asked his party supporters to ensure that his candidates win in the July 17 Punjab by-polls, which will determine the future of the province.

“No matter what they do or how much they rig the elections, we must ensure that we [PTI] win,” Khan told his supporters.