–Imran says if Zardari and Nawaz want to get off the hook, they can avail plea bargain

–PM says curbs on money laundering necessary to put economy on track, control current deficit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said two foreign countries had been asked by the sons of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to intervene and facilitate the ousted prime minister.

Speaking to a local media outlet along with his finance minister, PM Imran said these countries, however, refused to interfere.

He said the government won’t strike a deal with the opposition by giving them an NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance] like they got in the past during former president Pervez Musharraf’s tenure.

“Two NROs issued by Musharraf to Zardari and Nawaz destroyed the country,” Imran said, adding both of them also gave NROs to each other later.

Imran said the opposition leader arrested in graft charges can avail a plea bargain, which is the only way they can get off the hook.

“A Plea bargain can be allowed and no foreign country can do anything in this regard. They [Sharif and Zardari] will have to pay the money,” he said.

“Give the money and go out of the country,” he said, adding that Nawaz Sharif wants to seek treatment from a foreign country and he will be allowed to do so, but after he settles with the government.

Zardari can also get a jail-free card by availing the plea bargain, he suggested.

Commenting over the cases against former rulers PM Imran Khan said all cases against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was made by themselves.

He said that the Hudaibiya paper mills case was made by the PPP government against Nawaz Sharif. Similarly, the Surrey Palace case against Asif Zardari was made by the PML-N government.

‘All previous rulers were involved in money laundering,” he said, adding that Hussain Nawaz lives in luxury house of London worth RS $43 million.

“Asif Zardari as a president toured 40 times for UAE. Nawaz Sharif had spent Rs64 million on foreign tours. Those who have made the country bankrupt are asking us for accountability. These rulers[PML-N, PPP] have ruined the departments like PIA, Railway and others,” he added.

‘$10BN RETURNED’

He said the government has paid back $10 billion in debt servicing on loans taken by the previous government.

the prime minister said PM Imran said the previous government took commercial loans of 14 billion dollars on high-interest rate, which crippled the economy, especially the Pakistani rupee.

He said the focus of the PTI government was to control current deficit and money laundering to relieve pressure on the rupee.

He said we inherited a record current account deficit of over 19 billion dollars, which increased pressure on rupee as opposed to the US dollar.

He said Pakistan would have defaulted had the friendly countries, like Saudi Arabia, UAE, China, and Qatar, not come forward to help it out of the economic crisis.

The prime minister to put curbs on money laundering would be the top priority of his government, as every year at least $10bn were smuggled out of Pakistan [through hundi and hawala].

He said a comprehensive plan is being evolved to control smuggling and money laundering for which new legislation will be brought in.

He said the situation will soon become normal as a meeting is scheduled on Wednesday with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to finalise the loan agreement. It may be mentioned here that despite aid from the friendly countries, Pakistan entered in a $6bn loan programme with the Fund.

The staff level agreement was signed last month; however, the executive board of the IMF will give approval to the agreement on July 3.

Responding to a question, the prime minister said that the government is incentivising the export sector. Imran Khan said we are following the Chinese model for wealth creation.

Answering a question, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, who was also present on the occasion informed that no tax has been imposed on exports sector and the government is providing subsidy to the industrial sector on gas, electricity, in addition to loans.