Opposition rejects Justice Osmany-led commission

Panama Leaks probe

PPP says Rabbani be made head of investigation body; PTI demands CJP should lead inquiry

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties on Saturday rejected the proposed commission led by Justice (retd) Sarmad Jalal Osmany to probe the Panama Papers, saying the wife of the former judge is affiliated with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah has said that his party had reservations the day Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced constituting the commission. He said that Justice (retd) Sarmad Jalal Osmany should not head the commission irrespective of the fact that he is a respected figure. He added if a commission was formed under the Chief Justice (CJ), a joint committee of Parliament also needed to be made. Shah said that Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani could also be considered as another figure to lead the commission. He said that all parties were pursuing a common goal with regard to the Panama Leaks investigation — that it be based on facts.

PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said that his party did not oppose the PTI’s demand that the commission should be led by the chief justice, adding that the PPP demanded a forensic audit as well for better investigation. He inquired as to why the government was working on ideas which were not demanded by the opposition parties.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated that his party dismissed the commission, adding that consent was not sought prior to the formulation of the commission. He said that Justice (retd) Osmany is a respectable person. However, he expressed concerns over the affiliation of the former judge’s wife to the PML-N. Qureshi said that the government announced the commission out of confusion and anxiety. He further stated that it was not a matter of ego as everyone wanted a transparent investigation of the matter. He said that the PTI will accept the commission if it is headed by the chief justice.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the government should clarify its strategy with regard to the investigation. He said that Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) leadership also demanded a logical conclusion to the investigation, adding that the PTI and PPP should work together and formulate a joint strategy to resolve the issue.

To a query, The PTI vice chairman said if any of his party’s leaders was found having offshore holdings, the same law should be applied on them.

Meanwhile, talking to media men in London, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said the judicial commission on the Panama Leaks scandal is not acceptable under anyone other than the chief justice. 

No commission is acceptable under someone other than the CJ on the Panama Leaks, he said.  The meetings with opposition leaders are based on a one-point agenda.

Earlier, the government had constituted a three-member commission led by Justice (retd) Sarmad Jalal Osmany to probe the startling disclosures of the Panama Papers involving Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family. The other members of the commission included ICAP President Hafiz Mohammad Yousaf, while a police official or a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official would be included in the commission.