Imran whitened black money through amnesty scheme, says Khawaja Asif

SIALKOT: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief of whitening his “black money” through amnesty scheme after evading tax for years, ARY News reported.

“During 80s, 90s, you (Imran Khan) were not an expatriate, but you never submitted your tax returns and then whitened his black money through an an amnesty scheme by submitting 1 percent of the money,” said the minister while addressing a press conference in Sialkot.

The press conference was timely as Imran Khan, in his reply to Supreme Court of Pakistan in a case pertaining to eligibility, failed to provide complete details of his income from county cricket.

He also claimed that Imran Khan’s counsel is not appearing in the court in a defamation case against him over the claim that Imran Khan invested at least Rs 7 billion of Shaukat Khanam Hospital donations in Muscat and France.

Khawaja Asif maintained that Imran should be held accountable and details should be available for all the donations he receives for PTI, Shaukat Khanum Hospital and Namal College as they may be used for money laundering.

“Don’t hide behind the argument that these are charity institutions. You will have to stand accountable,” said Asif.

Asif maintained that even Indians have given donations to Imran Khan-run institutions so he must come clear on where these funds go and for what purpose.

He urged Imran Khan and his close aide Jahangir Tareen to present themselves for accountability before courts on the same footing as Nawaz Sharif and his family did.

“We will make them go through a similar accountability process like we (PML-N) went through and will not let them avoid the process,” said Asif.

Not even thinking about PM’s disqualification

Answering a question, Khawaja Asif made it clear that PML-N is not even thinking over PM’s disqualification in Panamagate case or bringing in a new leader of the house.

About the reports that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has developed differences with the party over its handling of Panamagate issue, Asif maintained that PML-N is a democratic party and it allows such difference of opinion.