Maryam Nawaz claims ‘Imran got millions from Arif Naqvi’

Staff Writer

Lahore; Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has accused former premier Imran Khan of staging ‘lettergate’ drama to divert public attention from the verdict that is expected to be announced soon against Arif Naqvi, a case she claimed Imran was also involved in.

Taking to her official Twitter, Maryam alleged that Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran had taken millions of dollars from Arif Naqvi, a Pakistani businessman and the founder of the Abraaj Group, who is currently behind bars and is awaiting his verdict, which she maintained was expected soon.

US prosecutors alleged that Naqvi was the architect of a plot to defraud investors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Lawyers for Naqvi, who has denied the allegations through a public relations firm, have said he could face 291 years in jail if convicted in the US.

The PML-N leader further said that Imran Khan has attacked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) because there was “irrefutable evidence of illegal funding”.

Maryam stated that Imran Khan “wreaked havoc in every sector of the country during his tenure and harmed the country at every level”.

She said that he violated the Constitution brazenly, made a mockery out of judicial orders, trampling them underfoot and was now spreading mischief.

Maryam claimed that Imran Khan was playing a dangerous game for the sake of the seat of the prime minister.

“He does not deserve any mercy or concessions,” she said, adding that his attack on institutions was a way to increase pressure for early elections.

She warned Imran Khan that his “bullying and intimidation” would lead to his own destruction.

Earlier this week, the PML-N Vice-President claimed that PTI’s “criminal ring” led by Imran Khan was running a smear campaign on social media against state institutions after his ouster from the power earlier this month.

In a series of tweets, the ruling party leader said the malicious campaign and “lies” about foreign conspiracy were spread by a handful of people using hundreds of fake accounts and bots.

“Another IK [Imran Khan] lie exposed, another conspiracy unveiled. Turns out that the slander campaigns against state institutions [and] lies about international conspiracy were churned out [and] spread by no more than a handful of people employing hundreds of fake accounts [and] BOTS,” she wrote on her official Twitter handle.