NATHIAGALI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has said that the war against the ‘corrupt mafia’ has entered the final phase and the nation, particularly youth and women, should play their role at this critical juncture in the country’s history.

He was talking to reporters after a number of political stalwarts from Punjab joined the PTI on Friday. Those who joined the party included former ministers Nauman Langrial from Sahiwal and Mazhar Ahmed Qureshi from Sargodha, former additional inspector general of police Zafar Qureshi and Shabbir Ahmed Leghari from Dera Ghazi Khan.

The PTI chief said a turning point in the country’s political history was approaching rapidly and a decisive war against corrupt elements had entered its final stage for which the nation would have to play its role.

He said the people should differentiate between the ‘corrupt mafia’ and an honest and genuine leadership which could bring the country out of this quagmire.

Mr Khan said the ruling Sharif family had come out to discredit the Supreme Court and the army by hatching a conspiracy against national institutions, warning that the nation would come out to protect and support them.

He said the people and political forces were now drawing a line “between us and corrupt rulers who in the past had looted national wealth” and were joining the PTI for the better future of Pakistan, believing that it was the only party which could bring the country out of the current crisis and rid it of the corrupt leaders.

He said this was an eye-opener for all, asking the youth and women to come forward and join the fight against those trying to save the old corrupt system which was just in the interest of the rulers who sent abroad more than Rs10 billion a year, according to reports of a US department.

The PTI chief said there was a time when Pakistan’s president was received by his counterpart during his visits to the United States, while the rulers of Dubai, Qatar and other countries were welcomed by the deputy commissioner of Islamabad, and sons of the king of Malaysia and other people used to study in institutions here. But now, because of wrong policies of the rulers, the situation had reversed, he said.

When the prime minister and the finance minister were involved in money laundering and tax evasion, then how the country could be known as dignified, he wondered.

Mr Khan said every Pakistani wanted to see the country free from corrupt rulers so that its dignity in the world could be restored.

Accusing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of dragging his family into corruption, he said its members were being interrogated because the premier had looted the national exchequer and kept the wealth in the names of his kids when they were just studying. Now the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed in the Panama Papers case was going to determine the ownership of their property in London, he said.

He said the Sharif family had tried to save its skin by calling a Qatari leader like the “1122” rescue service. The person made frequent visits to Pakistan for hunting and signing business agreements but was not willing to appear before a court,

Mr Khan said.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2017