— Sharif, Maryam call Imran money launderer; say he violated Constitution
— ‘Poetic’ PPP says false hero fell flat on his face
— ANP calls for life ban on former prime minister
ISLAMABAD: Responding to the verdict of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the so-called prohibited funding case, the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) said the charge sheet proved Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chair Imran Khan was a “certified liar” who submitted “false affidavits” to the agency.
Khan’s party accepted millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign individuals and groups, the commission ruled Tuesday. It found that PTI concealed 16 bank accounts and accepted donations from foreigners or foreign groups based in Australia, Canada, the UAE and the Cayman Islands.
The law bars political parties from receiving funds and donations from foreign individuals and companies.
The verdict “charge sheets Imran Niazi [sic] for violating the Constitution, submitting false affidavits [and] accepting foreign money. The nation should ponder over the implications of his politics funded by foreigners,” tweeted the prime minister.
ECP verdict on PTI foreign funding case chargesheets Imran Niazi for violating the Constitution, submitting false affidavits & accepting foreign money. Proven yet again that he is a certified liar. Nation should ponder over the implications of his politics funded by foreigners.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 2, 2022
Maryam Nawaz, the prime minister’s niece and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president, called Khan a “liar and money launderer”.
The former prime minister “is the only politician of Pakistan who has been proven, in a single judgment with irrefutable evidence, to be a liar, corrupt, a money launderer, and acting on the influence of external forces,” she declared.
فتنہ خان پاکستان کا پہلا اور واحد سیاستدان ہے جو ایک ہی فیصلے میں ناقابلِ تردید ثبوتوں کے ساتھ بیک وقت جھوٹا،کرپٹ،منی لانڈرر اور بیرونی قوتوں کے ایماء پر کام کرنے والا ثابت ہوا ہے۔اس کا اپنا ہی بنایا ہوا جھوٹا ایمانداری اور حب الوطنی کا بت آج اوندھے منہ گر گیا۔
بیشک اللّہ حق ہے!
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) August 2, 2022
“The idol of patriotism fell on its face today.”
JEWISH CONSPIRACY
In a press conference in Islamabad, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister and PML-N vice president, said the judgement has proved Khan as the “biggest thief” of the country.
He said that Khan received funding worth Rs1.5 billion through illegal means.
Those who donated to Khan include people and entities from India and Israel, he claimed. Massive sums were also received from the United States, he said, adding the law does not allow for funds from even a single foreign national, let alone a brigade of them.
“If the amount was meant for welfare, then how were Rs550 million transferred into the accounts of the political party?” asked Abbasi.
“The whole conspiracy stands exposed before the masses as the funds were received by the PTI from foreign nationals and companies to do politics in Pakistan,” the PML-N leader said, adding “the law will take its course on the matter.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said the decision confirmed the claim Khan committed wrongdoing.
In a statement, she said a thief, and liar involved in foreign funding and money laundering has finally been caught after a period of eight years.
The minister demanded that as now Khan was no longer “Sadiq (upright) and Amin (honest)”, and should immediately step down from the position of party chairman.
Terming Khan a foreign conspiracy against Pakistan, she said he was a liar involved in forgery and today’s judgement certified the fact.
The minister reiterated the charge made by Abbasi that Khan received donations from Israel, and India to create unrest in Pakistan.
HEROES AND VILLAINS
Farhatullah Babar, a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart, hailed the chief election commissioner, members of the commission, and Akbar S. Babar — a founding member of the PTI party who filed the petition in 2014 — after the verdict.
“It’s most instructive that those painted as heroes thru relentless propaganda for years turn out to be villains. Those who stand out today in the nation’s forward march” are Sikandar Sultan Raja, the ECP and Babar, he tweeted.
It’s most instructive that those painted as heroes thru relentless propaganda for years turn out to be villains. Those who stand out today in the nation’s forward march are the CEC #SikandarSultanRaja, @ECP_Pakistan & @asbabar786
— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) August 2, 2022
Wajid Ali Khan, a central leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) and former provincial minister, said the verdict proved the politics of Khan’s party was bankrolled by prohibited funding and donations.
He said that PTI concealed from the ECP its accounts and the donations it received from foreign nations which was a violation of the Constitution.
Talking to the Associated Press of Pakistan, he said the “inclusive judgment” testified that illegal funds were used by the party for personal and political gains in violation of the election laws.
He said the leadership made tall claims about the “foreign conspiracy” after Khan’s ouster but today, they were found guilty of receiving donations from their foreign masters.
He said Khan should immediately tender an apology from the nation and resign from the office of party chairman.
The former minister said PTI leadership made a habit of character assassination of Raja after failing to produce evidence.
He said the law would take its own course and the PTI chair may face a life-term ban under Article 62-63 of the Constitution.
