Hours after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government presented its first federal budget on Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to form a high-powered commission that would be tasked with one-point agenda to investigate loans of Rs 24,000 billion borrowed by previous governments in the last 10 years. "I would not give in to their (opposition's) blackmail and would not give them NRO," the Prime Minister said in a hard-hitting speech televised late night.
The high-powered commission, he said, would include Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). "These agencies would work together to determine why Pakistan's loans increased from Rs 6,000 billion to Rs 30,000 billion," he said. The PM's speech came on the heels of arrests of senior opposition leaders including Asif Ali Zardari and Hamza Shahbaz. The Prime Minister hailed this development. "Who would have thought that these big guns - who looted and plundered Pakistan and brought it where it is today - would be thrown in jails? It was just unthinkable in the past."
Distancing his government from the actions of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Prime Minister said neither NAB was working under the federal government nor was chairman NAB appointed by him. The Prime Minister accused Shahbaz Sharif and his family of money laundering exceeding $260 million and Asif Zardari of Rs 100 billion money laundering through fake bank accounts.
"Shahbaz Sharif's family had 4 companies which increased to 30 companies in the last 10 years. These two parties (Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and Pakistan People's Party) did not sign Charter of Democracy. They signed a charter of corruption."
Imran Khan said Pakistan's foreign debt during General Pervez Musharraf's (retd) tenure was $ 41 billion which increased to $ 97 billion in the last 10 years. "They (PPP) said 'democracy is the best revenge' and they proved it. They are the ones who destroyed this country - it was like they took revenge."
Hurling a warning shot at the opposition, the Prime Minister said, "They seek answers from me. Now I will seek answers from them. I will show zero tolerance. Previously I was very busy cleaning the mess they created and I was under immense pressure. Now I will take them on and I won't spare them. Now I would be the one seeking answers from them." He continued, "It's so ridiculous that those who have brought this country to the verge of collapse are now accusing our government of what they have done. It's them not us who have played havoc with Pakistan and they are going to pay for it."
Imran Khan also criticised Musharraf for giving NRO to PML-N and PPP leaderships saying this move cost Pakistan a bit too heavily. He once again reiterated to make Pakistan a welfare state like the State of Medina. "Merit, equality, humanity, welfare state, justice and women empowerment are a few highlights of the State of Medina. God willing, Pakistan would be like that state." The Prime Minister said Naya (new) Pakistan cannot be built in a day. "State of Medina was not built in a day. It takes time but the destination is not far."