Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday questioned the Dubai property owned by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan and demanded the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to probe her sources for acquiring the property, a private TV channel reported.
In an informal conversation with reporters on the occasion of his appearance before an accountability court, the former prime minister said the NAB does hold investigations against members of his party, adding that the anti-corruption watchdog should also find out how the prime minister’s sister purchased the property.”Wherefrom did Aleema Khan get property worth billions in Dubai,” Nawaz questioned, adding that she does not even have any sources of income.
Nawaz said the prime minister’s sister paid fine for hiding property. “Isn’t it an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance)?” he questioned. Aleema is also a board member of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH), he noted, and asked what is the money trail of her property.He said the nation wants to know who is behind Aleema Khan’s property.
Nawaz said they saved Rs160 billion in power projects thanks to tireless efforts of the then Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif.”But Shehbaz Sharif was thrown in jail instead of commending him,” he lamented.
The former prime minister said the Lahore-Multan motorway project has been completed but it is not being operationalised.”Name the project ‘PTI Motorway’, but at least open it,” he urged, claiming that the government is not ready to operationalise projects initiated by the PML-N.
Nawaz regretted his incarceration despite having done so much for the country.”We made JF-17 fighter jet in collaboration with China. Is it reward for that we are made to face prisons?” he asked.”Thinking about this hurts. Then you say I do not speak up,” he said. “People accuse me of making a compromise if I do not speak up. Can an individual, returning from London after being sentenced, go for an NRO?” he asked. “You can neither write nor publish whatever I would say,” he said.
Earlier, the former prime minister appeared before the accountability court in connection with hearing of the Flagship Investment reference case.
During the hearing headed by judge Arshad Malik, Nawaz Sharif said his father had imported first American Chevrolet and sporting car. He said the witnesses, who used the equipments of Ittefaq Foundries, are also ready to appear before the court.
Published in Daily Times, November 29th 2018.
