Never even used govt-sanctioned petrol all my life, Shehbaz tells court
PM says cases against him whimsical in nature: Wonders why he would commit corruption of so small an amount when he did not take millions of rupees under the head of his salaries and other fringe benefits
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Rejecting allegations of corruption against him, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he always put personal interests behind and selflessly devoted himself for the service of his country even to the detriment of his own family interests, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
He uttered these remarks during the hearing of the money laundering case against him in a Lahore court on Saturday. His son and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz also appeared before the court in the same case.
During the hearing, the prime minister went to the rostrum and told the court that he never committed corruption of even a penny. He said he even used to buy petrol from his own pocket to fill up his vehicles’ tanks. “I used to buy air tickets even from my own pocket whenever I would go on official tours,” he said adding that he left no stone unturned in the service of the people of Punjab.
He wondered how whimsical were the corruption charges on a man who never claimed his own salaries and other fringe benefits.
He told the court that he was accused of giving Rs14 million cheque. While on the other hand, I even did not take even a penny from the national exchequer in the shape of my salary or TADA, he said adding that he had relinquished his legal right estimating around Rs70 or 80 million under the head of his salaries.
“My case is not worth more than Rs0.5 million as I had not withdrawn more money than this in the shape of my salaries,” Shehbaz told the court.
The prime minister told the court that when he was serving as the Punjab chief minister he had got a summary seeking approval of Rs15/kg subsidy on sugar produce to enhance its export. But I rejected the summary and this decision of mine harmed my family’s economic interests which owned sugar mills to the tune of Rs2 billion.
He said he was not boasting about his personal goodness in the court, but he wanted to tell the court why would he be committing corruption of this petty amount.
He further said that he did not impose excise duty on the ethanol which is used in the sugar production despite the fact that his son was setting up an ethanol plant. My this decision had robbed my family of Rs80 million, he added.
The court meanwhile extended the interim bail of both Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz until June 4.
After this, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and CM Hamza left the court after requesting it to let them go.
Hiked POL prices with heavy heart: PM
Later, talking to media, PM Shehbaz said that he took the decision to raise the POL prices with a very heavy heart.
He said he was aware that people were already crushed under the burden of sky-rocketing inflation. People cannot afford one square meal or bear their medical expenses, Shehbaz said adding that it was the reason he announced a relief package of Rs28 billion under which 15 million deserving people would be given Rs2,000 subsidy on petrol.
Reporter Shaheen Attique