LONDON – After weeks of silence, former finance minister Ishaq Dar has publically denounced the cases launched against him by the National Accountability Bureau terming them bogus and manipulated.
In an extended interaction in London on Friday, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz lawmaker expressed that he was ready to be shot at and hanged publically provided any corruption is proved against him.
Dar, who travelled to the British capital in September after appearing before the accountability court in Islamabad went a mile more and claimed that the cases were launched to target him as part of a vindictive campaign against former Premier Mian Nawaz Sharif.
“My name was not in the Panama inquiry and it first surfaced when the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed and later the reference was filed,” observed the politician and added that this has been manoeuvred.
Dar said that the then Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali had said that the Panama Papers probe will remain limited to the four Avenfield apartments of Sharif family and that the court will not go beyond that, Geo News reported.
“Then it started spreading from one place to another and to the next level and whole new issues were created,” he observed.
Dar continued that his conscience was clear as he had ‘delivered and the whole world recognises that fact’.
The finance czar claimed that he supported reconciliation for the national unity and played a key role to solve the Dawn Leaks saga.
“In Dawn Leaks case, there was a stand-off between two institutions. I was in Yokohama for Asian Development Bank meeting at the time but as soon as it was over, I returned to Pakistan and played my role,” he elaborated.
Comparing the verdicts meted out by the top court in Panama Papers case and Imran Khan disqualification case, the PML-N lawmaker expressed that there were glaring contradictions in two decisions.
About his treatment and return to the country, Dar maintained that he was eager to jet off to Pakistan but has been advised by his doctors not to travel until his full treatment is completed.
“Because of the current seasonal holidays, the neurosurgeon has advised physiotherapy and medication till early January 2018 when I will be admitted to the hospital for handling the neck issue,” Dar added.
The senator also expressed his dismay over the seizure of accounts of his two charitable institutions (Hajveri Trust and Hajveri Foundation).
“Hajveri Trust manages our orphanage house named ‘Saaya’ where currently 93 orphaned children live and are provided full-time boarding, lodging and education. Hajveri Foundation is involved in pool marriages, medical treatments for the needy, payment of education fee for the poor, food distribution in various hospitals and distributing Ramazan Ration Packages to thousands of needy,” said the former finance minister.
