Panama Papers unite PPP, PTI in parliament

ISLAMABAD:  The government faced fierce criticisms in the lower house of the parliament on Thursday as opposition parties decided to join hands to raise the issue of Panama Leaks.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a meeting with opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah ahead of NA session and told media that Pakistan People’s Party, MQM and Jamaat-e-Islami are on the same page regarding offshore companies.

Rejecting the proposed judicial commission announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif whose family is mentioned in the massive leaks of tax documents, PPP stalwart Khursheed Shah said in the National Assembly that nobody would accept the inquiry commission comprising retired judges, who, he said  know nothing about audit.

“Judicial commission will not receive any evidence in 30 years let alone three months. Nobody will accept this commission,” he said calling for an inquiry to be conducted by someone free from government’s influence.

“Panama Leaks issue was not raised by a political party or media, It is a global issue,” he said, adding that the government should explain the modus operandi of transfer of money.

The opposition leader also criticized the prime minister for his TV address to the nation following revelations of names of his children in the documents leaked from a law firm. “I am at a loss to understand as to who pushed him to address the nation, there was no such need” said Khursheed Shah.  

“Your steel mill has earned more money than the world’s largest steel mills,” he said without naming the prime minister.

Khawaja Asif

Responding to criticism, key cabinet minister and a close aide of prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif said the opposition could move the Supreme Court if it was not satisfied with the Judicial Commission.

“Government does not object to debate rather it welcomes it. There should be an open debate for awareness of people,” he said.

Asif was of the view that a forensic audit of the Panama Papers should be carried out and said that inclusion of retired or sitting judges does not make any difference.

The minister said terms of references for the proposed commission would be such that would leave no room for anybody to raise fingers.

He said previous commission that were set up to investigate Salala and Abottabad incidents did not bar submitting of evidence and he himself had appeared before the panels. He said money received through donations was also invested in offshore companies.