Take me to court, will reveal who made Rs10 bn offer: Imran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Friday challenged his opponents, saying that those who want to know the name of the person who made the Rs10 billion offer to stay mum over the Panama case, can take him to court.

Imran Khan said that he gathers people not for himself but for the country, as he addressed the first rally of the party since the announcement of the Panama case verdict.

He said that he’s not revealing the name of the one who tried to bribe him, only out of consideration that the person would be forced to go out of business due to vengeful activities.

The skipper further said that he would provide protection for that individual. "Take me to court and I will reveal who is in Dubai," he said.

"The one, who was asked to made the offer, was given Rs2 billion to convince me," said Imran.

The PTI chief said that if people had not taken to streets then everyone would have forgotten about the Panama scandal.

He said that Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif has sent notice to him worth billions of rupees. Imran further said that Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif’s children own billions of rupees.

“Nations are made on the basis of character, not lies,” said Imran, adding “all the five judges have said that Nawaz Sharif is a liar.”

After the subject came up due to the Panama leaks, the Sharif family for the first time acknowledged that they own flats in London, said the PTI chief.

Imran said that in the country there is money laundering of Rs10 billion.

While referring to Indian businessman and entrepreneur Sajjan Jindal's unannounced visit and meeting with the premier in Murree, Imran said "he (Jindal) won’t be able to save Nawaz".

“Nawaz sent out a message that he wants friendly ties but the army does not,” said Imran.

He said he would raise voice for the rights of Kashmiris wherever he could, adding that Indian PM Narendra Modi is campaigning against Pakistan on every front.

The PTI is holding its first public rally following the apex court's judgment. The stage, for the first of a string of rallies planned across Pakistan, is all set in Islamabad’s parade ground.

Imran Khan is accompanied by party leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Jahangir Tareen and Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rasheed.

‘Imran’s the last hope’

AML leader Sheikh Rasheed addressed the participants of the rally ahead of Imran’s speech.

“I am a friend of Imran Khan, he is the last hope,” said Rasheed.

He said that all the five judges of the Supreme Court rejected the Qatari letter in the Panama leaks case. He stated that two judges said that the PM is no longer 'Sadiq' and 'Amin'.

“How Pappu, who flunked two exams, has been declared pass?” said Rasheed.

Nation has hopes from Imran Khan, said the AWP leader.

Workers and supporters from Lahore and Peshawar are present to attend the rally. Caravans from the two cities reached Islamabad ahead of the address.

In order to secure the rally and avoid an untoward incident over 2,300 police personnel are deployed on duty at the parade ground. A separate enclosure has been made for ladies; interestingly the ladies enclosure is being secured by 50 female police personnel instead of the usual PTI tigers.

Three stages have been set at the parade ground, one for the party’s top leadership, another for the second tier leadership and a third for the media personnel covering the rally.

Three entry points have also been set up; one for the VIPs, another for ladies and third for the general public wishing to attend the rally.

Photo: Reuters