CPEC: Maryam Nawaz asks Asim Bajwa to face allegations
Islamabad: Reflecting the internal conflict within the political paradigm of Pakistan, PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz has asked China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Chairman and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa to face the allegations against him.
Referring to a recently published investigative news report about alleged offshore properties and businesses of Bajwa and his close family members, Maryam was quoted as saying by Dawn News that the answer to questions raised by the report should not be that it was a "conspiracy against CPEC".
"If the founder of CPEC [Nawaz Sharif], who brought investment of $60 billion to Pakistan and was removed because of one iqamah and that did not affect the project, then the removal or addition of one person won't affect CPEC," she was quoted as saying by Dawn News.
"It is the matter of an individual. Allegations have been made against him [Bajwa] and he should answer them," she said.
Maryam said that the evidence against General Bajwa was "huge" and called for him to clarify his position in front of the nation.
"If you have been appointed to a government post on taxpayers' money and allegations are made against you and evidence is presented, you should face them," she said.
"In our case, it was like making a mountain out of a molehill but still we served punishments thrice. If you have been accused and evidence has been brought, then you should not hesitate to face the law," she added.
"[Imran Khan] used to say that Nawaz has left the country which has weakened his narrative of accountability. Then he used to say that someone has gotten bail [or] someone has been acquitted so his narrative of accountability has weakened," she targeted the Pakistani government.
"I want to question Imran Khan and his government that today, when allegations have been made against Asim Saleem Bajwa with proof, why is his narrative of accountability sleeping? Is there no challenge to his narrative of accountability now?"she questioned PM Imran Khan.
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