Mind-boggling that 'plunderers' are being defended even after JIT reports: PM

E-Paper | June 17, 2026

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday linked Pakistan's economic problems with the findings of the JIT-authored reports in Panama Papers and fake bank accounts case, and claimed that the revelations made in the reports have left his opponents indefensible.

On Monday, an accountability court, on the basis of a joint investigation team's (JIT) findings, handed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif seven years in jail and two hefty fines, and a separate JIT levelled money laundering allegations against PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and others.

The prime minister, reacting to the rising legal problems of two of his biggest political opponents, tweeted: "The Panama JIT report and the fake accounts JIT report are case studies in how states fail - getting impoverished & drowning in debt. The scale and methods used for siphoning off public money are incredulous and mind-boggling."

Furthermore, the premier questioned how the two parties' leaders and supporters could still defend "the plunderers" in the light of the JIT reports' disclosures.

"I am puzzled & perplexed by those who, despite having read the two reports, are still defending the plunderers," Khan wrote.

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Pakistan

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SHUJAAAT HUSSAIN

Dec 25, 2018 09:45pm

WELL SAID KHAN

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Ahmed

Dec 25, 2018 09:45pm

There are two sides to every story and justice demands that both sides be heard. Divergence of opinion occurs frequently in a democracy.

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Pakistani

Dec 25, 2018 09:57pm

Indeed. But if logic and common sense could be relied upon, we would not have had 10 years of plundering in the first place.

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Daar

Dec 25, 2018 09:57pm

This is a total system failure. Hawkish investigators currently euphoric about current mischief were sleeping at the time crime comitted . These public sergents were equally responsible for there cowardly ineffectiveness to prevent process failure at right time. Closing your eyes and not to stop mischief is actually acting as a partner of the culprit .

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Misba

Dec 25, 2018 10:00pm

We hope you catch these crooks. If you don't you will have failed in your mission. You are our last hope.

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Nadeem

Dec 25, 2018 10:00pm

It shouldn’t be mind boggling. It is a lot easier to break a system that is working well than to fix it. It will be challenging but it can be done and at least we have the right people in power to do it. The government should not be distracted by what happpens to the Sharifs or Zardaris. Because at the end of the day it is not about them, it is about Pakistan.

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Bitter truth

Dec 25, 2018 10:01pm

Why aren't you puzzled at yourself for defending Jahangir Tareen after court's verdict?? Where was your integrity then? And why aren't you puzzled at yourself for granting high positions to plunderers like Aleem Khan, Zulfi Bukhari, Mehmood Khan etc in your government??

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S.A.K.Rahmani

Dec 25, 2018 10:01pm

The. Prime minister cannot distinguish between Accusations and Judgemrnt of a court. His Attorney General should explain to him the difference between the 2 very different things.

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Islamabad Morning

Dec 25, 2018 10:09pm

Its good to see that mind boglling didnt occur in the case of Aleema Khan or Jahangir Tareen or for instance during the misuse of KP helicopter.

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Kumar

Dec 25, 2018 10:10pm

He seems to have a burning desire to finish them once and for all.

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Bitter truth

Dec 25, 2018 10:10pm

Dear Mr IK unfortunately you are PM of this country now. Instead of indulging in political mudslinging you should tell us about your performance. Rupee is depreciating with a speed higher than your U-turns but you say you came to know through news bulletin. Stop diverting people's attention from your bad performance with such statements.

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Miraaj

Dec 25, 2018 10:11pm

Its even more mind boggling to see that Bani Galla land is not regularised but poors are being vacated from their houses across Pakistan. Its also mind boggling to see the corrupts within PTI but IK for the sake of tickets only sacrificed his party narrative.

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Salman

Dec 25, 2018 10:12pm

There is no such thing as IK getting amazed at corruption cause this is only on opposition that IK is amazed at but is mysteriously silent on Aleema Khan, JT or other corrupts within PTI. IK's mind boggles only on opposition and thats it as long as it serves his needs to run country without any check and balance

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SachBol

Dec 25, 2018 10:14pm

IK is right. Pakistanis are partly to blame. With obvious exponential rise in these corrupt politicians wealth, and now the evidence available, Pakistanis still want to blindly follow these crooks. Good have mercy on us!

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Skkk

Dec 25, 2018 10:23pm

That is one big problem with less educated nations. People think as if its leaders right to make wealth thru corruption. They can never connect it to how it impacts their lives

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Magnanimous approach

Dec 25, 2018 10:28pm

PM IK we appreciate & understand your statements, but need all money back swiftly, it’s getting delayed with each day passing. All possible legal options be exercised to recover money please.

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Fareed N

Dec 25, 2018 10:31pm

No surprise there, defenders of corruption too belong to the same clique.

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Jjacky

Dec 25, 2018 10:33pm

Why r u concerned. I think people have right to speak as per their wish. You better concentrate on economy and financial condition of ur country.

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sughra

Dec 25, 2018 10:39pm

Both case studies of the Joint Investigation Committee should be made public by all permissible methods for general awareness in every segment of the society. Awareness, knowledge, information and transparency are the way to go.

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Masood

Dec 25, 2018 10:40pm

Unbelievable,plunderers are defended! I just sincerely hope that the case was airtight and the JIT exercised its due diligence ! Obviously the next person in line is Zardari who appears to be a bigger corrupt ! Justice will be served when he is convicted ( with evidence and due diligence ) and given appropriate sentence ! Masses will learn and corruption will significantly drop!

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Waqar Ahmed

Dec 25, 2018 10:44pm

@Ahmed, Plenty of opportunities were made available to the plunderer to come clean. Nawaz couldn’t prove the money trail. Lock him up.

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Nadeem

Dec 25, 2018 10:48pm

Absolutely correct! But you are missing the point PM-NAB seem to have one direction for accountability! Chau dry Pervaiz Elahi allocated public land to his daughter and relatives, why NAB is so slow in this regard to recover the public assets?

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Saurav

Dec 25, 2018 10:50pm

Reason is there are multiple views in a democratic country. Please accept that just because one believe someone is plunderer, there will be some who will not believe it. This is essence of democracy. If Imran Khan is a democrat, he would not have been surprised.

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bhaRAT©

Dec 25, 2018 10:54pm

@S.A.K.Rahmani , There is something called 'caught red-handed'. You are doing exactly what PM said "I am puzzled & perplexed by those who, despite having read the two reports, are still defending the plunderers,"

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Ahmed

Dec 25, 2018 10:59pm

Due to lack of education and common sense of our masses, Pakistan has reached this stage and this allowed corrupt politicians to loot the country for the last 30 years.

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bhaRAT©

Dec 25, 2018 11:01pm

I wonder how Zardari's lawyers Farooq H Naik and others would be able to protect him this time when caught this red-handed!

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Dec 25, 2018 11:04pm

take these plunderers assetts and give back to people. by the time they comeout of jail. nothing left for them in this country.

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Winters

Dec 25, 2018 11:05pm

except that this mind boggling is only in case of opposition. I hope that he gets to have mind boggling in case of JT, Aleema Khan, zulfi, Aleem and many more corrupts within PTI.

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LOVE YOUR COUNTRY

Dec 25, 2018 11:06pm

@Bitter truth, - not to overlook Choudhrys and others having the same credentials. When it comes to PM's seat, any chance is too big to be missed no matter what is the cost.

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Nadeem

Dec 25, 2018 11:06pm

Hope IK's gets to have mind boggling for 100 billion loss to exchequer in case of BRT KP. Cause same metros was built within 25 billion. Hope IK gets attention towards teh corrupts and illegal lands in his party and himself

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LOVE YOUR COUNTRY

Dec 25, 2018 11:09pm

@Kumar, - you mean some kind of personal vendetta.

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Jamil

Dec 25, 2018 11:11pm

There is a saying that you are ruled by the way you live. Corruption and hypocrisy in Pakistan is a way of life for the majority of people from whom the likes of Sharifs and zardaris were elected. Until and unless there is a re-awakening of truth and honesty in the masses, they will continue to support the corrupt.

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Haris

Dec 25, 2018 11:13pm

Dear PM, if sense and rational mindset ever prevail in our society we would not have such plundering at first place.

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Haris

Dec 25, 2018 11:17pm

@Bitter truth, amount of Tax paid by Jehangir Tareen in one year more than total amount paid by Zardari and NS in their whole life (Period) You are trying to compare Sun and Moon.

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Nick

Dec 25, 2018 11:18pm

@Kumar, These people need to be hanged.

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fairplay

Dec 25, 2018 11:28pm

@Ahmed, but, this is not a story.

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fairplay

Dec 25, 2018 11:28pm

@Ahmed, but, this is not a story.

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Rizwan

Dec 25, 2018 11:41pm

@Misba, wait till his term is over and you will then see how many skeletons come to surface. For a start, just remember IK is the first PM in the world whose own house is built without following and fulfilling "important legal" requirements and is constantly using delaying tactics and avoiding law. This is one of many examples of how much respect he ever had for rule and adherence of law. Majority of his team at center and provinces are notorious, tainted and part of the corrupt lot of this country. Lastly PTI May be last hope for you but not for Pakistan

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Sehar

Dec 26, 2018 12:03am

IK has no experience building anything. It’s easy to criticize and complain

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Shahida

Dec 26, 2018 12:06am

What about Sawati JIT Report?

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Captain

Dec 26, 2018 12:09am

Really....... I also think that way......PM Sb....

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Javed

Dec 26, 2018 12:24am

Pakistan's fate was hung between the corrupts of two parties both tried to outdo the other and the victims were 200 million people of Pakistan and the "State". Mindboggling is way too modest to describe... but the time has eventually come to drain the swamp and it is to our utter disbelief is happening right in front of our eyes. And It is not a sweet dream.

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Nadir UK

Dec 26, 2018 12:27am

What about Aleema and Tareen?

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Noor-ul-Ain

Dec 26, 2018 12:36am

The bottom line is .... BRING the stolen money back to treasure of Pakistan. It is needed urgently... Instead of penalizing public by burying under the debris of cascading empire. The public who is choking by Hefty taxes, rising prices, downsizing, losing employment..etc. Why the rules are for public but not the rulers? The cascaded empire built by debts over debts, over mountains of debts, those never benefited the rightful owners. Please focus on confiscating the looted money and not the public which is living below poverty line.

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Iqbal

Dec 26, 2018 12:40am

Dear fellows, our country is in a mess. and majority of us knows the reason. Is there any body who can say there is no corruption in Pakistan. if we all accept there is corruption, At least 99 percent would accept from heart that Zardari and Nawaz both are corrupt and Imran is honest man. Now the system doesn't allow Imran to work as he wants to clear the country from corruption. so what is solution, throw Imran out and bring the looters back! please think rationally and for country. love you all.

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Amjad

Dec 26, 2018 12:45am

What else shall partners of plunderers do?

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Qaiser Ahmed

Dec 26, 2018 12:57am

and what do you call giving him a preferential status in the jail?

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Qaiser Ahmed

Dec 26, 2018 01:06am

Ik think before you talk. Transferring Nawaz from Islamabad to Lahore on a plane in a Lahore jail? What do you call this?

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Tzaman

Dec 26, 2018 01:38am

There is a difference between transparent and forced justice.

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Newborn

Dec 26, 2018 01:40am

His time will come soon.

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Aamir

Dec 26, 2018 02:14am

Mr PM is correct. It is unfortunate that still some people are trying to defend the very same thieves who have robbed them and their children (several generations to come).

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Pakistan deserves better.

Dec 26, 2018 02:20am

Corrupt will support the corrupt.

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Justice Chaudhry

Dec 26, 2018 02:20am

Here in the west those named in the panama papers have been dealt with or stepped down from office, in Pakistan however they take another oath to plunder.

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javed Qamer Engineer Washington DC

Dec 26, 2018 02:39am

PLease all these plunderers should be kept in jail on bread and water. Let them feel how most of the people in this great country of Pakistan live. these plunderers have looted Pakistan for a number of years and now their supporters are howling. Send all these looters to jail.

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Zak

Dec 26, 2018 02:41am

The reason they are defending is because they are beneficiaries of the looted largesse.

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Zak

Dec 26, 2018 02:42am

@Ahmed, Who would defend thieves and crooks other than theives and crooks.

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javed

Dec 26, 2018 02:50am

Recover the looted money via Saudi Model. Imprisonment is not enough solution. Convicted 'mujrams' should be treated as ordinary prisoners in the jail. No special concessions in the guise of B class or C class rubbish. Prisoners are prisoners.

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Bilal

Dec 26, 2018 02:53am

Khan Sb, what about the plunderers and murders in your own party? What about those who were ministers in the previous plundering governments and are now ministers in your govt. What about target killers who are now your allies. What about their accountability? I had voted for Khan but am now ashamed of how he endlessly spews poison and lies.

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Concerned 1

Dec 26, 2018 02:58am

Let’s see how long can he survive his tenure only on this rant about corrupt politicians

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Fowez

Dec 26, 2018 03:24am

@Islamabad Morning Misuse of KP helicopter did not lead to Pakistan being on the brink of bankruptcy. The 40 years of PPP and PLM-N using Pakistan as their personal welfare system did. It's time to stop making excuses and start holding people accountable, starting with people that were in charge.

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Fowez

Dec 26, 2018 03:31am

@Bitter truth PTI has been in power for 132 days, PPP and PLM-N have been in power since 1967. You need to give PTI some time to clean up your massive mess before we see results.

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LAHORI KID

Dec 26, 2018 04:01am

Should the PM interfere in these cases? We already know the PM wanted accountability, he's getting it, he should focus on the issues rather than pour salt on the opposition's wounds, its not necessary. There is no need to go back and forth,

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S Zafar Iqbal

Dec 26, 2018 04:04am

There is nothing to be surprised about. It is obvious. The defenders of the looters and plunderers are those who themselves have benefited from the looting and corruption, either directly or indirectly. The plundering of the nation became their way of life. To them it was like "manna from heaven". They want it to continue.

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Rauf Ahmed

Dec 26, 2018 04:18am

It is not only the main culprit if proven to be punished rather their facilitators, government employees who are responsible for ensuring due process, shall be punished as well. They would have made millions while sanctioning this plunder.

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M Naqvi

Dec 26, 2018 04:23am

@bhaRAT©, Easy. Crooks in Pakistan have crooked lawyers, just think of Ayan Ali, she was caught red handed with looted money and crooked Mr Khosa ran rings around judges and eventually helped her to flee the country.

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Pakman

Dec 26, 2018 04:33am

@Ahmed, stop defending the obvious.

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ajmal

Dec 26, 2018 04:54am

We have to teach our children how money flows from bank to bank leaving an electronic or paper trail.Those records tell date and amount of each transaction.

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Asad Gohar

Dec 26, 2018 05:02am

There is no evidence just assumptions in all the verdicts. If you guys cannot bring solid proof then let go the ego. Concentrate on running the country. How much can you get back. $1 billion or maybe 2 to 5. It will still not help. Finish corruption going forward and I think Pakistan will be able to recover...

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Chaya

Dec 26, 2018 05:03am

The supporters of Nawaz and Zardari have plundered the state too....eg: getting jobs they don’t deserve,land grabbing, state funds distributed at whim.....and the list goes on.

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Zak

Dec 26, 2018 05:11am

@Kumar, Not him but the people of pakistan want to see the end of looters and corrupt leaders. If IK stopped NAB from prosecuting them, he would be in trouble. IK is the only honest leader in whole of South Asia.

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Tahir Chaudhry

Dec 26, 2018 05:12am

You are our only hope. These plunderers of our country resources should be in jail for a long long time.

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Daskalos

Dec 26, 2018 05:42am

@Miraaj, how can Bani Gala land be regularised it's a major corruption scandal? Only 30 or 40 kanals of land were purchased by Jemima Goldsmith (now claimed to be in possession of PM Imran ) but actual land in PM'seems estate is over 300 kanals, the rest is government land illegally usurped by him. Why does he not show moral principles and resign and offer himself for accountability first of all? It's very easy to blame opponents. It's very easy to talk big words . It's hard to practise these principles that are preached. Pure hypocrisy.

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Dec 26, 2018 06:30am

@Haris, It is not how much tax he is paying but how he made huge emoure in short time?

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Ibrahim

Dec 26, 2018 06:50am

These people defending the corrupt are doing so for self interests and not the interest of Pakistan. Please stay on your vision of fighting corruption both within your own party and other parties. The ultimate success of the country depends on it.

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Jamal

Dec 26, 2018 06:52am

@Ahmed, both sides of the story were heard during the trial and the judgement has been passed. This is no longer a matter of opinion.

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Chacha

Dec 26, 2018 07:23am

True, but if the government would have started these case studies with similar issues from his own party including himself than the cases would have been more widely accepted, focusing only on opposition leaders will not give any results. The issue of money laundering is very wide and is concerning. IK does not have any job but a very lavish life style including travelling on private jets before becoming PM, means someone is paying for him, does it means he is corrupt, may be not, but same apply to others as well.

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Aly Khan

Dec 26, 2018 07:29am

@Bitter truth, how is Zulfi Bukhari a plunderer ?

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atta rehman

Dec 26, 2018 07:32am

JIT report should not be last word

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Faruque Ahmad

Dec 26, 2018 07:39am

@ Jamil, very well said, thanks.

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Faruque Ahmad

Dec 26, 2018 07:40am

@Haris, absolutely true.

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Muneer

Dec 26, 2018 07:41am

@S.A.K.Rahmani , These are not accusations.It is a investigative report based on evidence collected by relevant departments.Justice will be delivered through judgement in the courts where both sides will present their case.

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Nusrat

Dec 26, 2018 09:05am

Are u not a plunderer?? can u tell us the breakup of budget exp. in last six years in KPK??? Now he would say.. i was not in KPK Govt..... i am innocent...

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WayToGo

Dec 26, 2018 09:16am

Mr.PM would others fall into investigations from lovely team or its only the old one's for now...

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Ahsan Gul

Dec 26, 2018 10:22am

PM Khan is absolutely right that corrupt politicians and leaders proven guilty still are being protected. These two corrupts Nawaz Shrief and zardari have placed their incompetent employees at every level of our government and needs to be removed

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Tahir Raouf

Dec 26, 2018 12:40pm

To me mind blogging is why corrupt persons with cases in NAB included in cabinets

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Suraj71

Dec 26, 2018 09:25pm

Your U turns were not boggling anybody??

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Suraj71

Dec 26, 2018 09:27pm

After 5 years nobody would be defending you everyone from PTI will be behind the bars for selling national resources to China.

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