Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced formation of a high level Judicial Commission to probe allegations against him and his family.
He was addressing the nation over Radio Pakistan and television networks on Tuesday night. The Prime Minister said the Commission would be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The Commission would investigate the allegations and give its verdict so that facts become clear to all. Mian Nawaz Sharif said those levelling allegations should approach the Commission and prove their allegations there.
The Prime Minister gave detailed background of the business of the Sharif family and said foundations of this business were laid many years before establishment of Pakistan. He said his father founded Ittefaq foundry in Lahore which became a stable industrial organisation till creation of Pakistan. One of its branch was in Dhaka which became victim to Fall of Dhaka in 1971.
He pointed out that within fifteen days of fall of Dhaka, the then Government of ZA Bhutto nationalized Ittefaq foundaries, which had become the largest steel, machinery and engineering industry in the then West Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said his father did not lose heart and within 18 months during ZA Bhutto rule, again established six new factories.
The Prime Minister said he or his family did not get any undue benefit while remaining in power. He said neither he nor any of his family members got any debt or mark up written off.
Nawaz Sharif said despite repeated efforts to ruin our business in the past, he and his family paid dues of about six billion rupees.
Shedding light on the historical background of his sons business and acquiring of equity in foreign countries, he said his father had established a steel mills in Saudi Arabia for which Saudi banks provided loan. He said later on that steel mill was sold and his sons Hussain Nawaz Sharif and Hassan Nawaz Sharif established businesses in London.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said his family business has been providing job opportunities to thousands of people besides contributing hugely to the national exchequer in the form of taxes and duties.
The Prime Minister said his sons were doing perfectly legal business. He said he understand the objectives of those who are levelling baseless allegations against his family. He said allegations against his family were also levelled in the past but they were never proved in a court of law.
The Prime Minister said he is fully determined to take Pakistan to zenith of progress and prosperity and would continue working for that noble objective.
