Thank God I was cleared in this fake case: Imran Khan

Published December 15, 2017
PTI chief Imran Khan speaks to the media in Karachi. —DawnNews
PTI chief Imran Khan speaks to the media in Karachi. —DawnNews

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, who on Friday addressed reporters in Karachi after the Supreme Court handed down its judgement in the case brought by the PML-N's Hanif Abbasi, has said he "thanked God for being cleared in this fake case filed by a drug dealer."

The drug dealer comment was targeted at Abbasi, who currently faces charges of illegally selling ephedrine that was used in the manufacture of illicit substances. "How fitting that money launderer Nawaz Sharif came after me through a drug dealer," Khan said.

He maintained that he had presented a clear money trail and sixty documents in the case despite never having been a public office holder.

Therefore, Khan added, he should not be compared to the Sharifs, who had presented only one document — the Qatari letter — "which everyone knows is fake."

The PTI chief also expressed regret that the Supreme Court had disqualified PTI leader Jahangir Tareen, whom he described as an upright citizen and one of Pakistan's highest tax-paying politicians.

Read more: 'Disqualified on mere interpretation of trust deed,' says Jahangir Tareen

Notwithstanding the verdict, he said, Tareen should also not be compared to the "corrupt mafia" of the Sharif family, who Khan again accused of taking Rs300 billion out of the country. Compared to the Sharifs, Tareen conducted all his legitimate business in the country, Khan said.

He also said the PTI would file for a review of the Supreme Court's judgement on Tareen, insisting it was based on a technicality. He added that the property not being under Tareen's own name did not in any way benefit Tareen as it was taxed and had a proper money trail present.

Khan said that he was satisfied with the verdict because people trust him with their money for his charitable work and they now know that he is completely clean. He added that he was happy because he had been cleared by the SC before the 2018 General Elections.

Regarding the SC rejecting the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)'s appeal to reopen the Hudaibiya case earlier in the day, Khan accused the bureau of "helping" the Sharifs by presenting a very weak case to the judges.

"I strongly condemn NAB because it protected the Sharifs," Khan said.

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