Imran Khan wants to address nation, asks PTV to make arrangements

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) wants their leader Imran Khan to be allowed to address the nation over the state-owned broadcaster.

It has written to public broadcaster Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) to make arrangements on Sunday so Khan can address the nation on the Panama Papers.

“Federal ministers have misguided the nation on Panama Papers’ revelations...they have spread disinformation among the masses related to Shaukat Khan Memorial Trust,” the PTI chief said.

Quick to respond to PTI’s letter was Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid. He said, “Only President and Prime Minister have the right to address the nation.”

Saeed Ghani, a senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader, in response to Rashid’s comments said Pakistan Television (PTV) is a national entity and that a political leader should at least be allowed to talk, if cannot address the nation.

Yesterday, the PTI chief had threatened to go back to streets if Panama Papers — an unprecedented leak of 11.5 million files from an offshore law firm Mossack Fonseca — were not investigated on merit.

Khan demanded that the judicial commission to investigate Panama leaks should be headed by the serving chief justice of the Supreme Court.

“Prime Minister should present himself before the commission for accountability,” the PTI chief said. “Forensic experts should also be made part of the commission,” he added.

Leaked confidential documents spanning over nearly 40 years that spell out the extensive use of tax havens by politicians, world leaders and celebrities to launder money and evade taxes through one of the most secretive companies the Panamaian law firm Mossack Fonseca has taken the world by storm.

Many Pakistanis have also been named in their revelations.

The documents identify many Pakistani business tycoons and politicians including late two-time Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as well certain members of the ruling Sharif family (excluding PM Nawaz Sharif and his brother Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif) to have use tax havens to hide their wealth.