Sunday, November 23, 2014

Pakistan: Imran using public money for political campaign


Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan of using public money to pursue his political campaigning.
Rashid, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday, said the airplane used by Imran for his ongoing political campaign across the country belongs to JWD Sugar Mills.
“JDW is a public limited company and the PTI secretary general Jahangir Tareen only has 29.76% shares in the company,” he said. “The other 70.24% shares are owned by other financial institutions and shareholders.”
He added that using the aircraft for political motives is an illegal act as per company laws.
“Company laws say any public company limited company cannot give donations to a political party and cannot contribute in monetary terms.”
Rashid further said the airplane was bought for company interests but was being used for politics.
“I haven’t heard if the majority of shareholders decided to use their airplane for PTI’s political campaign,” he said. “[JWD Sugar Mills] is supposed to crush sugar, not the economy of Pakistan.”
The information minister said such misuse of funds was being carried out by a person who gives lectures the public on integrity and uprightness on a daily basis.
Rashid further said that the PTI chairman paid Rs0.1 million in income tax last year, asking him to justify his ‘lavish’ lifestyle and traveling expenses in his upcoming speech in Gujranwala.
“What other sources of income do you have?” he asked the PTI chief. “You’re traveling on stolen money.”

No comments: