Keep cancer out of politics, Khawaja Asif
If the PML-N was truly concerned, they could have at least consulted with the hospital or the board before going public with unproven accusations. PHOTO: REUTERS
It is common knowledge that politics is a very dirty game. It can be as intricate as a game of chess, albeit one where mudslinging, backstabbing and name calling are part and parcel of the process.
Even in this murky world of politics, where honour and decency are hard to come by, there are certain unwritten, unspoken rules and boundaries that one would be loath to cross.
But in dragging a prestigious institution such as the ‘Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital’, whose sole purpose is to provide patients that are suffering from cancer with the treatment that they would otherwise never be able to afford, into their feud with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and casting aspersions to its handling of the donations it receives, the Pakistan Mulsim League- Nawaz (PML-N) has done just that.
It has crossed the very unwritten, unspoken rules and boundaries.
The PML-N alleged that Imran Khan engaged in money laundering, sending money raised through Sadqat, Fitrana, and Zakat abroad utilising various shell companies, and engaged in real estate gambling that resulted in losses of about 65%.
In a press conference, almost two hours later, Imran Khan clarified that no money was sent abroad. A percentage of money collected through charitable donations from abroad goes to the endowment fund which then invests the money to earn a profit for the hospital; this later is used to provide the sick with healthcare services, which is the hospitals main agenda.
People’s Sadqat, Fitrana and Zakat are not used for anything other than treating sick patients.
Imran Khan further clarified that the endowment fund was run by an independent board of which he was not a member. He also said that the money invested was never at risk because the hospital had been guaranteed that the investment would be protected, meaning the hospital would get any profits made by the investment, but all losses would be absorbed by Imtiaz Haideri’s company.
One could argue that the PML-N was only doing their civic duty in bringing to people’s attention some irregularities that they saw, but in my opinion, the absurdity of the claims and the ease with which the allegations were debunked, only goes to show that the main intention behind the press conference was just to tarnish Imran Khan’s name.
If the PML-N was truly concerned, they could have at least consulted with the hospital or the board before going public with unproven accusations.
On various talk shows, PML-N was asked whether they had any evidence that money was being taken out of Pakistan? To this their reply was that it is up to Imran Khan or someone from his trust to prove that this was not the case, and that if Imran Khan had an issue with their statements, he should take them to court. This only lends credence to the fact that a smear campaign is underway and no civic duties are in in anyone’s mind.
When political parties resort to ruining the reputation of charitable organisations in order to gain political mileage, the victims of that campaign are not just limited to the members of the opposition party.
As Imran Khan said,
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital is not Imran Khan’s personal hospital; the patients are not my relatives, they are Pakistanis.
Shaukat Khanum is a charitable organisation and for it to continue to run effectively, it depends on donations. If people do not trust how their money is being utilised or handled, they will not donate. If donations dry out, then it will be the innocent patients, through no fault of their own, who will suffer in the end.
By engaging in this stunt, the PML-N has not only done a disservice to the professionals dedicating their time, effort and money to help treat the patients, but also to Pakistan as a whole.
What transpired yesterday was another shameful incident in the history of Pakistani politics, and one that has no place in any civilised political discourse.
We can only hope that the negative backlash that has resulted due to this episode will discourage any and every political party from engaging in similar tactics in the future.
Read more by Mani here or follow him on Twitter @BallerinaAngry
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.
It is so unfortunate that a charitable hospital was targeted in this month of ramzan.Politics can not be done be putting unreasonable allegations, it is for the beneficial of the nation which currently has been done for attaining position and power, it is sad how Khan is clearing the misconceptions built by Khawaja Asif, especially for a hospital which is seen as a source of privilege for most of the people in Pakistan as they can not afford to fight against cancer.Recommend
we are with imran khan …………… this is 2012 not 1997…………………Recommend
Instead of providing a concrete reply to allegations logically Imran Khan resorted to allegations against NS. The question is why investments were made in particular projects which were handled by people somehow related to Khan. Since SKMT is a Pakistani asset and not Khan’s private one, in his own words every citizen in this country has a right to question that how its run so there is nothing to be offended about. A few months back Khawaja alleged during a TV show that SKMH public works projects are being carried out without transparent bidding procedures and Khan came with a reply that ‘He is not of my level, I won’t talk to him!”Recommend
@ Yasir Mehmood
You are talking as if all the investments of the endowment fund was made in that particular project or Mr. hydari is some sort of a start-up asking his fellow board members for investment. Read about HBG and Mr Hydari first.
The CEO of SKMH said that Mr. Hydari’s presence (as board member for 10 years, donor for 20 years) gave further confidence in the security of the investment.Recommend
@Yasir Mehmood:
I don’t understand why PML N supporters do not get that the accusations have been answered in full? When Imran Khan has explained all the accusations and proved them false, PML N supporters are still going like why doesnt he answer the accusations. How much more concrete of a reply do you want?
Allegations like these are really dangerous because the PML N knew that the accusations they were making were wrong. You don’t throw around words like “money laundering” and “gambling”. Khawaja Asif was a banker and he knows better.
Do you understand the fact that the person who made the investment was also on the independent board of directors and a big time donor to the hospital? If you read the article you should understand that the money being invested by the hospital would be protected. Any losses would be paid for by Haideri.Recommend
Well for kind information of the Author it was PTI who dragged Charity work into Politics and exploit it as well and everywhere in Lahore you could see Pictures of NUML and Shaukat Khanum on PTI posters. .On every website and on every forum of PTI we can see pictures of Shaukat Khanum and infact PTI dragged SHaukat Khanum into Politics. Many active duty employees are now full time political workers of PTI as well. Also if PMLN raised this point then it is absolutely valid. Imran Khan tell every Politician to bring money back and invest in Pakistan while the Institution he is running has actually invested 30 Millions USD outside of Pakistan. In future how come Imran Khan can criticize any party when his own Organaziations now invest abroad on the pretense of getting profits from Endowments. Where are the claims to invest in Pakistani businesses and in Pakistan then and bring the money in Pakistan. ???Recommend
Well said. What amazes me is the lack of political maturity of PMLN. Even after 25 years in politics, if you don’t know that there are certain moral red lines you should not cross, then you better quit politics and go back to first taking a lesson in morality.Recommend
@yasir mehmood
I trust you have seen capital talk yesterday where dr faisal sultan provided a response to each and everyone of kw asif’s allegations?
To be honest, I was expecting this…but Alhumdullilah the backlash has been so strong against PMLN, that they have actually benefited IK/PTI and SKMH, so I guess we should be thanking kh asif :)Recommend
@Yasir Mehmood:
No. He cleared allegations first and then came hard on NS for crossing the moral red lines. Just because investments were made in a project handled by someone close to IK does not mean anything. What would prove anything is if IK had any direct influence in allotment of that project (which he didn’t since he is not part of investment board) or if he is a beneficiary of returns (which is never the case for endowment funds). Lastly, your point on bidding of projects, Khwaja Asif would do better to devise procurement policy of any firm first before making these accusations, because then he would know the dynamics. Yes. This is a governance issue. But, organizations choose or bypass bidding procedures on case by case basis based on type of investment, scale of investment, and availability of alternatives. End of the day, in order to question a procurement decision, you have to have significant proof of whether the alternative chosen by a company was sub-par taking into consideration the business requirements and market solutions, which is very hard for outsiders to comment on (other than auditors who have complete access to company’s internal information base to test this entity level control).Recommend
@Awans
If SKMH starts supporting PTI politically then there would be a problem. But I don’t see a problem in Imran Khan promoting SKMH n Namal as his accomplishments and a testament to his leadership skills and ability to build a team.
I think u mistyped its 3 million not 30 million
If you look at the Balance sheet you would see that SKMH has invested in many local companies (HUBCO and others)
The endowment fund frm overseas donors is used overseas for investment for which i can’t blame them.Recommend
I agree, PMLN should not do dirty politics over the poor cancer patients. They should instead come clean on how they have spent the poor tax payers money. Kh. Asif just lost all respect from my eyes, no wonder none of Sharifs had the balls to stoop so low and sling mud themselves.Recommend
Nawaz sharif is politicizing SKMT to decrease the popularity of Imran Khan among people but i hope Imran Khan will sweep Noora sharif in next election.
InshallahRecommend
@Yasir Mehmood:
It is a fact. Asif is not at the same level as Imran. Do a poll any day, anywhere in the world.Recommend
title should be “Keep Khawaja cancer out of politics”Recommend
It all shows how PML N is now concerned about its lost credibility, and came up with age old weapon of sham smear campaign against Imran Khan, couldnt find anything they resolved to SKMT engowment fund!
What a shame, it will work exactly against them!! PML N do whatever you want to do, sink to lowest, but time for change has come now!!Recommend
this type of accusation is the reason why we should stand up against these corrupt politicians and kick them out of assemblies. enough is enough, we have had enough dirty politicians that have looted our national wealth and have fooled us so many times. I dont understand what do these politicians have to do for us to realize that they are just gangsters and looter with no good intentions for us? Has not zardari looted and destroyed the country? Has not Noora league brothers mad enough money by being in power? i hope we as a nation have smarted from what they have seen from PPP and PML-NOORA league leaders and know fully the games they are playing to be in power so that they can loot the country even more. guys, please wake up before its too late and bring IK to power. other politicians have invested looted money in foreign countries so they will simply pack their bags and leave but you and I will stay to suffer.
Its your wake up call so please wake up.Recommend
Khawja Asif and company of Ganja league they are all part of those who breed Corruption, there is no doubt in my mind Pakistan is at it’s lowest only because of these people.Imran Khan got dragged into ugly accusations by these human faced animals by plan to create suspicion in people’s minds. I am pretty sure people of Pakistan can easily reject these SOGs by looking at their tract record and intentions.Recommend
desperate times ask desperate measures.. this is PML-N’s acting in desperation now..Recommend
Author,
Absolutly biased article with no word on IK.”clean politics”.it’s a protest from author rather than an article.Recommend
After this i hate PML N … now we can do more funds to Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital.Recommend
@Yasir Mehmood:
He need give concrete evidences. If khawaja had some serious concerns he should have inquired it with the management and the BOT. Only if then he had reservations he should have brought this to the notice of the proper authorities or then on the media. Making wild accusations on incomplete information is not only unethical but subject to civil fines and damages under the law.Recommend
@Awans:
There is a difference. SHK is a institution which makes investments for the best both outside and local like any other institution.
It is not laundering money outside which they have stolen. The investment is for the betterment of Pakistan as they are the indirect final beneficiary.Recommend
Khuwaja sahab tussi itna frustrate kiun hooty hoo … ur drama got floppedRecommend
I feel ashamed when it revealed that the zakat and fitra money collected by pti in the holy month of Ramdan and technically twist its name as donation and misused this amount collected for a noble cause illegally in unlawful earning and interests purposes.I would cite here an example for the sake of better understanding of all followers of PTI to decide.If on any friday prayer the donation collected in a mosque is suppose 5000 rupees is invested by the authority of mosque in some gambling to earn more profit to be used for the renovation of the mosque is lawful?.Allah doesn’t like a single penny to be spent in his holy house.The holy prophet narrated that any good deed done with illegal earning will not be accepted by Allah.So how Imran and his party now defenses its wrong doing.I feel sorry for Imran khan that we never expected all this from him, anyhow when it is now clear that nobody in an Angel in pakistan.Recommend
PML-N made a desperate move against Imran Khan but again they did it without calculating facts, the sad part here is that if they want to fight Imran Khan politically they must target him not the Shaukat Khanam Hospital and its management, I have seen how poor people got medicines and care for free that cost more than 5000 per day, this hospital is one of the few clean organizations of Pakistan and Imran Khan is also one of the few clean persons in my point of view. The actual thing is that our politicians knows that how desperately our media need hot stories and how weak memory our Pakistani people have, so they are playing a technique that raise a topic media will make it more hot and people will start thinking that there is something fishy in it and their target will be achieved. I wish that the people of Pakistan make their memory strong and try to remember that people accusing are the people accused for many bigger scams done in Pakistan. InshaAllah Imran Khan will survive good and will bring a change to Pakistan.Recommend
The important point to note is that the accounts of the hospital are audited and available on the web. If they had something to hide they would never have adopted this procedure.
This is one subject the PML-N bosses, with their reputations, should have steered clear of, this will work in PTI’s and especially Imran Khans favour.Recommend
I beg to disagree. The charitable hospital is an indication of the nature and commitment of Imran Khan. Morevoer, its successful operation is reflective of his personality and character.Recommend
Surprising to see this heighten and panicked
PTI trill activity .
They made a shady investment in land in
Oman of all places ..,
Please the so called the g’tee
It’s not even worth the paper it’s written on .
Instead of this shocking irregular activity being
investigated , PTI trolls have lost it and ate writing such
immature articles .Recommend
@shoaib: Well brother your comment tell us a simple fact that in Pakistan democracy is in nascent stages right now and in Pakistan people sometimes confuse Parties with Personalities. PPP is about Bhutto, PMLN is about Nawaz , MQM is about Altaf Bhai, ANP about Asfandyaar and so on. In Established democratic countries it is the party name that comes to the fore not the personalities and that is why I intended to say that Individual accomplishment should not be associated with the accomplishment of the party. My family is itself a donor to Shaukat Khanum and they always voted for PPP ( not this time) but i think Shaukat Khanum is doing a good job and that is why it must remain Apolitical and Both PTI and PMLN should not mention them. PTI is inviting criticism by boosting about it so obviously PMLN is threatened and they are responding.Recommend
I cant believe this! this so unfortunate and disappointing that people who want to do something for the country are targeted for no use.in stead of supporting him for a good cause initiated by him people are pinpointing his efforts, so shame on them. we are no one judge him, nor we are superior to him. in this month of Ramzan when we should think and do good deeds what we are doing! instead of giving charities we are claiming that charity should not be given to himRecommend
@Yasir Mehmood:
SKMH is not a government property where you can make public every transaction of business. Did you wake up After 18 years to share your sane opinion. where was PML.N since last 2 decades. Now they can see their bleak future, they are coming out agianst PTI and Imran Khan. The Go Zardari Go campaign was just an eye wash.Recommend
When imran khan use SKMH to gain sympathy in politics that is justified but if the other party put any accusations on SKMH. the whole PTI started crying to keep SKMH away from politics.very funny indeed……..;)Recommend
Great piece boy…Recommend
A. Yes, by all means keep Cancer out of politics.And sports too. Stop citing SKMH and the World Cup as the reason why should people vote for you. Find other reasons.
B. Bring Accounting Principles back into the balance sheet. IK has admitted that there were investments abroad and these investments crashed suddenly. Show me where have you booked the loss and how has this been provided for?
C. Keep any promise made by the dealer, who lured you in to a loss making investment, out of the Accounting too.
Any accountants out there?Recommend
First time,I have seen a single political leader in the history of the country
who’s hands are clean not smeared with corruption or any other mala fide acts.
Hid appearing in politic has arrested N-league popularity and succession in the
upcoming general election in The country.
Old and new both the generations like him unanimously because his previous
life widely known by them and it is widely understood that he has credibility
and capability to over come the issues being faced by the people of Pakistan
jut like increasing power short fall expending insurgency and other economic
crisis.Recommend
@jawaid iqbal:
Did you even read the article before commenting? Money that was collected from Zakat and Fitrana or Sadqat were NOT used in investments. How will we get confused people to understand this point?
The money that was used for investment was from foreign donations.Recommend
so this stunt was just so that imran does not say anything against politicans who takee money out of pakistan and invest abroad. the money in question is collected abroad and invested abroad tgere is a big difference. also in shaukat khanm does it say only pti members allowed. why are the sharif brothers so threatened by imrans popularity in youth that they are diverting a huge part of punhab budget in distributing laptops this fund could be used to better the public education or health system. Pml-N desperation is showing in the number of development projects happening in lahore in the last bexause of tge election year. but to them is lahore whole of punjab instead of demolushing and rebuilding roads and bridges invest in the poor parts of punjab.
@Awans:Recommend
Khawaja Asif himself is cancer so how can he keep himself out of the politics. Blood sucking leaches.Recommend
Sorry to say , we are illetrate people came to this world to fight about hospitals.Pray to Lord that none of us sould have to see the hospital. Try to find solutions which are helpful for the betterment of the country.Ego will fail you and enemy will takeover.Stand if you think if youre right, why you follow these people.We point out on system , when there is no one to say I am wrong.We are destryoing our country with our hands. Everything will stay here . Follow yourself as we will succeed and help the country tommorow youll be proud of , not by blaming everytime.Recommend
Sorry to say , we are illetrate people came to this world to fight about hospitals.Pray to Lord that none of us sould have to see the hospital. Try to find solutions which are helpful for the betterment of the country.Ego will fail you and enemy will takeover.Stand if you think if youre right, why you follow these people.We point out on system , when there is no one to say I am wrong.We are destryoing our country with our hands. Everything will stay here . Follow yourself as we will succeed and help the country tommorow youll be proud of , not by blaming everytimeRecommend
I feel that all the stupid actions, in which Nawaz League indulges every day in the week twenty four hours a day to stop their popularity graph making a nose dive to extinction, the most stupid action was to make Shaukat Khan Memorial Hospital a target in their political vendetta against Imran.
I am eighty years old and have seen all the elections in Pakistan but I have seen no one to degrade his party to these depths.I have issues with Imran’s politics. I will surely not vote for him. I however have the highest regard for him in what he has achieved in Cricket and providing such a Medical Facility to the down and trodden of our poor country.
I also believe that democracy in this country can not get a foot hold till such Icons of stupidity continue to be senior leaders in these self serving political parties.Recommend
Non profits should also be audited to make sure money being donated to the NGO is being used for the purpose it is collected far.. Involving shell companies for money transfer sounds some thing fishy is going on. Investment in real estate can be very rsiky. People should not be playing with this kind of money in real estate.
No Company can guarantee that the investment would be protected. Many big comapnies lost billions of dollars in Real estate and US government stepped in to help them.Recommend
I just wanna say that your blog is very great. If you post more stuff like these, I’ll follow your weblog to read more interesting stuff.Recommend
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i was a supporter of PML – N before this … but not any more …Recommend
good share!!keep go on!!!nice post!!Recommend