Pakistan interim PM-designate denies possessing illegal wealth

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz nominee for the post of interim Prime Minister on Sunday challenged the opposition to prove irregularities in his finances, saying "whoever wants to file a reference against me should feel free to do so".

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was speaking to the media following his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the capital, Dawn reported.

Speaking on Nawaz Sharif's disqualification by the Supreme Court, the former Petroleum Minister said: "To my understanding of legal matters, there is no harm in possessing an iqama -- it's just a visa -- but nowadays, laws are being interpreted in ways that are stranger than ever."

"I have disclosed all my assets and their details are published in the Pakistan Gazette. So those levelling baseless allegations (against me) should check their own acts first," he said.

When asked about speculations regarding the involvement of the military in the Prime Minister's ouster, Abbasi said: "There are no two sides in this country; we all are one and work for the betterment of this country in a united way."

PML-N leaders, in a parliamentary committee meeting on Saturday headed by ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had decided that Sharif's younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, should take over as the party's leader in Parliament.

Additionally, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was until Friday the Petroleum Minister, would take over as interim Prime Minister till the time Shahbaz is elected to Parliament, and then to the Prime Minister's office.

Abbasi, during the meeting, said the party had made a decision and everyone had acted on it. "There is no conflict in the party. We may have given in, but history will not accept this decision (to disqualify Nawaz Sharif) -- the nation has not accepted this decision."

--IANS

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