NewsMay 18 , 2016
An offshore company is an offshore company, wherever it is: Khawaja Asif
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif addressed the National Assembly today after PTI chairman Imran Khan had ended his speech and stated that an offshore company was an offshore company, regardless of where it was located.
According to details, Khawaja Asif stated that the logic that an offshore company disclosed in Panama papers was wrong whereas the one found in New Jersey was right. The Defence Minister said that if the Prime Minister had presented himself for accountability, then Shaukat Khanum cancer hospital should also be held accountable.
In response to Imran Khan's speech, Asif said: "Those who are wielding stones themselves have defects in their characters."
Khawaja Asif further slammed the PTI chief when he said that Shaukat Khanum was a respectable institution which was operating due to donations, grants and zakat money. He said that it was in everyone's interest that the cancer hospital ran efficiently and Imran Khan had caused the most harm to the institution.
Commenting on the absence of PTI chief Imran Khan, Khawaja said he did not understand what apprehensions Imran had. Asif said accountability should begin with Nawaz Sharif since he had himself agreed to it.
"The process of accountability should begin with Nawaz Sharif, he himself has agreed to it," said Khawaja Asif. "There are many names that were found in Panama papers but the focus is on politicians," he claimed.
Khawaja Asif took to task Imran Khan during his speech and said that the PTI chief had changed his stance on offshore companies when the accusations when details regarding his offshore company were shared.
"He (Khan) has his hands in people's pockets whereas his own pockets are empty," said Khawaja Asif.
During Asif's speech, PTI members of the National Assembly shouted in a bid to interrupt the Defence Minister's speech. On this, Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq told the members to let Khawaja Asif speak otherwise next time when Imran Khan addresses the parliament, others would attempt to disrupt his speech.
During his speech earlier, Imran Khan had provided clarifications regarding his offshore company and his London flat. The PTI chief had also called for Prime Minister to present himself for accountability and spoken highly of his Shaukat Khanum cancer hospital. Imran had ended his speech by stating that if justice was denied, his party had the right to take to the streets in protest.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
Back to Pakistanlink Home