Panamagate report: PTI calls for PM, Finance Minister’s resignation

ISLAMABAD: Calling for immediate resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s leader Asad Umar on Wednesday said it is in the best interests of the duo in wake of Panamagate probing team’s report, ARY News reported.

He was addressing a press conference here when he asked Dar the motive of defending Sharif family as what he believed he could not defend them for over a long period of time.

“For how long will you keep defending the premier and facilitating the criminals,” Umar asked while posing a question to Ishaq Dar. He opined that Dar’s statement in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case, given under oath proved to be true.

On record tampering, Umar said: “Dar Sahib! You have appointed your friend as SECP chairman who is facing a case now on the apex court’s orders.”

Recalling Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement, he said that the premier himself said he would go home without a moment delay if any wrongdoing is proven against him.

He said that he did not comment on how the probing team was doing earlier as he did not know its proceedings behind closed doors but now he appreciates its investigative report.

“The nation should appreciate that the JIT has shown bravery and competence in its job,” he added.

Joining in conversation with media, the PTI’s Shafqat Mehmood, who was also present at the press conference today, asked the finance minister why SECP Chairman Zafar Hijazi remained at his post despite the top court order of registration of a criminal case against him for his involvement in alleged record-tampering as revealed by a Federal Investigation Agency probe.

He reiterated his party’s call for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down. “The prime minister’s capacity to rule is diminished as he is now tainted,” Mehmood said.