Giving NRO would be equivalent to treason: PM Imran

Addressing a ceremony of the launch of the spring tree plantation campaign in Balloki, the prime minister once again refuted reports regarding giving NRO and asserted, “No will get an NRO.”

“Those who are speculating that we will give NRO to anyone should understand that it will be equivalent to treason and disloyalty to the country,” he added.

PM Imran explained, “NRO is forgiving very big suspects. Two NROs destroyed the country and our current circumstances are owing to that.”

“One NRO was given by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf to Nawaz Sharif. A case was ready against the Sharif brothers pertaining to the Hudaibiya Paper Mills and Ishaq Dar's confessional statement regarding how money laundering was done was also present. However, to save his own seat, Musharraf gave Nawaz an NRO and let him leave for Saudi Arabia” the premier further stated. 

"On the other hand, Rs2 billion from the national exchequer were spent on Asif Zardari's Swiss case and there was a Surrey Mansion case in London which the Pakistan government won and the country was to get the money, however, an NRO was signed and that case was closed."

The premier continued, "These two NROs gave the powerful the impression that theft is no big deal and no matter how much you steal, the powerful thieves are not caught in Pakistan."

"The result of this was that from 2008 to 2018, two leaders who were given NRO governed for five years each. In 2008, Pakistan's debt stood at Rs6,000 billion but after the terms of the two leaders it rose to Rs30,000 billion as they had no fear," he added.

PM Imran further said, "Owing to these two NROs, the nation is suffering today, the prices of commodities have increased and the value of rupee has fallen. When you take loans and leave historic debts, then the nation will have to pay."

"Today, I see on TV the faces of those who increased our debts questioning what we have done in the last five months. They are the ones who left us in debt and are asking us for answers," the prime minister stated. 

Questioning how the previous leaders have the audacity to say they "did good work", the premier stressed, "We will not leave anyone who made the country bankrupt."

“We are asking those for accountability who destroyed the country. This is tabdeeli (change),” he added.

Taking a hit at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, PM Imran said, “In this history of democracy it has never happened that a man becomes the chairman of Public Accounts Committee from jail and then summons the accountability watchdog (NAB) which is probing him. ”

“Now no favours will be given to corrupt people,” PM Imran stressed.