Imran deprived nation of funds equal to 25pc of IMF package: Musadik.

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik Wednesday said Imran Khan as prime minister had deprived the nation of $250 million or one-fourth of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) package by diverting PS190 million to Malik Riaz's accounts instead of the national exchequer.

Addressing a press conference, he said under the United Kingdom's laws, the PS190 million returned by the National Crime Agency (NCA) should have gone to the national exchequer, but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman (the then PM)diverted that amount to the accounts of a business tycoon. Contrary to Imran Khan's claims of establishing a "Riyasat-e-Madina" - a welfare state based on Islamic principles, Dr Musadik said the PTI chief rather took care of his own vested interests and indulged in obtaining financial and other kinds of benefits illegally. He said today both Imran Khan and his wife were posing themselves as "innocent victims" but it were they who had "orchestrated a scheme of corruption to defraud the national exchequer of millions of dollars, equivalent to 25 percent of the package we are now seeking from the IMF".

Imran Khan claimed that the money was deposited into the Supreme Court's account, but, in fact, the funds had gone to Malik Riaz's coffers, he added. He said the related actions involving property were questionable. "Whether it would be acceptable that as a public servant, if I were to allocate a large area of land in my name and claim it belongs to a trust owned by me and my wife?"

It was ironic that despite clear proofs of his involvement in the $250 million corruption scandal, Imran Khan not only got bail in the instant case but was also granted protective bails for potential future crimes, he added.

The way the state's writ was compromised with not adhering to the law and the Constitution, he said, would have consequences not only for the state but also for those who were "endorsing and legitimizing the illegal acts". "The fire...