Leader of the House Senator Dr Shahzad Waseem said that it was a good tradition of disclosing the assets of advisors and SAPMs in line with the PTI manifesto and part of transparency. He wished this tradition should continue in future.
When Imran Khan formed the core committee before the government, he also asked its members to declare their assets and a question was raised about Imran Khan’s assets, he faced it even though he did not hold public office and also presented his 40-year-old record. “That is why the Supreme Court declared him honest and trustworthy for the first time in Pakistan that a politician has been declared honest and trustworthy by the Supreme Court. While the tradition here is that after ruling for 30 years, the assets are still unknown. The Supreme Court asked to write to the Swiss government. Two prime ministers were sacrificed but the letter was not written,” he noted.
He said, “here, despite being the prime minister of the country, he stayed in Dubai and had their ikama while the defence minister received a salary as well as a residence permit. The head of CPEC also had Saudi ikama”.
He clarified that the prime minister’s advisers and special assistants attend the cabinet only on invitation, having no executive role and do not sign any summaries. “Their role is only to give advice and it is the prerogative of the prime minister to consult them. Nowhere does dual citizenship mean that he is not a patriot. Abroad, Pakistanis have an unparalleled passion for the country. Committee considered the bill in multiple meetings and also held public hearings in Karachi and Quetta.