Major crackdown against money laundering soon

by Tauqeer Abbas
341 views

Shafaqna Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan said the government will now launch a full-fledged crackdown against money-laundering and plug the loopholes left by the former ruling elite to commit crime.

Taking the floor after the National Assembly passed 107 supplementary grants relating to different ministries, divisions and departments on the last day of the budget session on Saturday, he said the main reason for increase in devaluation of Pak rupee was money-laundering mainly by the ruling elite in the past. “How can others be stopped from money-laundering when those sitting in the government themselves are involved in this illegal practice?” he asked.

The prime minister said in the last four to five years, the properties of Pakistanis in Dubai had reached the figure of $5 billion, while there is also information that resident Pakistanis were keeping $10 billion abroad taken out of the country. He said Asif Ali Zardari also took foreign exchange out of Pakistan through the Omni Group. Making a mention of Hudaibiya Paper Mills and Hill Metal, he asked how the opposition leader who himself was a money-launderer could talk about devaluation of Pak rupee.

He came down hard on his critics saying those calling him a ‘selected’ prime minister had signed an NRO with a military dictator to hide their corruption and were manufactured in the nurseries of military dictators. He said Murad Saeed in his speech quoted former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, who had mentioned in her autobiography that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was asked to drop corruption cases against members of the current opposition. The Americans collaborated to have the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) signed because it was in their interest, Khan said, setting the record straight. “That person who signed the NRO with Musharraf to hide his corruption is now using the word ‘selected’,” he said, adding Asif Zardari also sent money abroad through Hundi and Hawala.

Without naming Shahbaz Sharif, Khan said he too was using the word ‘selected’ for him despite they were also manufactured in the nurseries of dictators.

The prime minister particularly thanked the armed forces and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa for voluntarily freezing the defence budget despite a tense situation on the eastern borders and the Line of Control. “General Bajwa suggested that savings from the defence budget be spent on development and uplift of Balochistan and Fata,” Imran said amid a thunderous applause from the treasury benches. Khan said the incumbent government had taken special measures in the budget to check lopsided development in the past and develop those areas left far behind in development. He said when the PTI government took over, it inherited current deficit of $19.5 billion and there was dollar crunch in the country. “It is a fact the rate of dollar goes up when it is in short supply in the country and when there is current deficit,” he added. He asked as to how those politicians who were facing charges of corruption and looting public money could deliver speeches in this house of public representatives. “How a person who has been facing billions of rupees corruption charges for the last 30 years can head the Public Accounts Committee, whose task is to protect public interests?”

He regretted the last Parliament had passed a bill allowing a leader, disqualified by the Supreme Court, to head a political party. Imran congratulated his party and ministers, chief whip and allies for their participation in the budget session saying quality speeches were delivered from the treasury benches. Imran particularly appreciated Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar for conducting the budget session and his composure during the proceedings. “He has emerged as a young leader and earned the place of federal minister for himself,” he said. The prime minister was happy to note that the budget was passed despite big slogans from the opposition and despite efforts of a politician who gathered the opposition parties for toppling the incumbent government. He asked as to how those who left behind record current deficit could question the present government. He said the government is sparing no effort to plug the loopholes, which the former rulers had left for money-laundering. “We are also making efforts to attract foreign investment,” he said, adding the government is under tremendous pressure, as the country is passing through a difficult phase. He said special budget had also been kept for various schemes in Karachi and pointed out the government is introducing such a system that would enable the local governments to generate their income.

You may also like