DADU: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said that after the system is done with the prime minister’s accountability, it will be the turn of Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to face accountability.

Mr Jatoi, a former chief minister of Sindh, said at a press conference at his residence here on Thursday that he hoped the process of accountability would not end with Nawaz Sharif and his family and all past and present ‘corrupt’ rulers would be subjected to a stricter and speedier inquisition about the looted public money.

He said the prime minister had earned a lot of bad publicity across the world because of corruption char­ges and reports that his family had bought properties worth billions in foreign countries from the ill-gotten money. He demanded Mr Sharif should immediately tender resignation in the larger interest of democracy and people as he had lost the moral and legal basis to continue to rule the country.

Mr Jatoi criticised PML-N leadership for issuing threats to the members of the joint investigation team (JIT) and said the team had earned respect of entire nation for doing its assigned job in a professional and honest manner. All people stood by JIT members and their families, he said.

After the institutions were done with Mr Sharif, it would be the turn of Asif Zardari to face accountability, he said.

He claimed that many PPP MPAs, MNAs and leaders of other parties were in contact with PTI and they would join the party the moment the PML-N government was sent packing.

He said that ‘corrupt’ PPP ministers were interested only in amassing wealth through corruption and they continued to fight with each other over distribution of ill-gotten money without showing any concern for the starving poor.

Mr Jatoi demanded investigation into how Bahria Town chief Malik Riaz had become super rich. The Sindh government had sold him costly land worth billions of rupees at very low rates after receiving a huge amount as bribe, he claimed.

He believed PTI chief Imran Khan would be next prime minister and the country would develop by leaps and bounds under his able leadership. Job opportunities would be created for the youth and poverty would eventually be reduced, he said.

He accused PPP leaders of registering fake FIRs against PTI leaders and activists in Dadu to force them to change their loyalty. Fake cases were lodged against PTI leaders Shah­nawaz Chandio and Moham­mad Ali Shahani to victimise them, he said.

Earlier, Mr Jatoi reached Dadu leading a rally from his native village Betto Jatoi. He was accompanied by party leaders Ashiq Ali Zaoor, Dr Bandah Ali Leghari, Shah­nawaz Chandio and Mehboob Loond.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2017