It’s up to PM to face accountability or seek escape: Khursheed

Says opposition ready for talks with govt over PanamaLeaks ToRs if contacted

SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said on Sunday that it was up to the prime minister to present himself for accountability or escape from the issue.

He said the opposition was ready to hold talks with the government for the preparation of terms of reference (ToRs) on the PanamaLeaks-proposed commission if the latter contacts it.Talking to media persons here and later talking to a news channel, the opposition leader said the opposition will hold a joint meeting today (Monday) to formulate its strategy, adding that the opposition was ready to hold investigations into the offshore companies in Panama and other parts of the world.

He said the opposition would agree to the inclusion of issues of taking kickbacks, corruption and waiving of loans in the ToRs of the PanamaLeaks probe commission. He said if PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif is not scared of the PanamaLeaks, it is a good sign, adding that it will be a good thing if the prime minister faces the nation.

Khursheed Shah said if the government contacted the opposition on ToRs, it will be happy to hold a dialogue. He said the opposition will hold talks when the government will contact it. He said the real place of the prime minister is in parliament and if he is not ready to face parliament, it was up to him.

The opposition leader said he was saying from the day one that investigations against all the names that appeared in the PanamaLeaks should be carried out. He said that whosoever got loans waived off was equally accused. He said the beauty of democracy was in dialogue. He said the categories of the accused would be prepared i.e. who will come first and who will come later but they are all accused.

Khursheed said all the persons named in the PanamaLeaks will have to undergo accountability. He said if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wants to escape from accountability, then it is his choice. He said that it will be a good thing if the premier presents himself for accountability.

The opposition leader claimed that politicians did not get scared. He asked why the government was asking to forgive those who got their loans waived off.He said Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif had taken action against corruption in his own institution for the first time in the history of the country.

On the death of MQM worker Aftab Ahmed, he said he appreciates the army chief for ordering an inquiry. He said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan should set up a commission over the death of MQM worker Aftab Ahmed, adding that Chaudhry Nisar should write to the Supreme Court and high court for the formation of a commission and the Sindh government will follow the matter. He said the opposition could convey its message through the media to the people. He said it was included in ToRs of the opposition that a commission headed by the chief justice should be formed and legislation should be done in parliament.

Khursheed said the prime minister’s assurance that he and his family will appear before the commission will not satisfy the people. He said the opposition would not fight the PML-N government with guns or rocks if the latter chose confrontation. “But we will raise our voice. No one can stop us from that,” he said.

He said the prime minister should not make decisions hastily, adding that he was a friend of the prime minister. He said no one should think his opponents are weak, adding that Musharraf was very powerful and used to say he will not allow Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to return home but now Musharraf, after becoming weak, went abroad by striking a deal with the government. He said the chair of the prime minister was not so strong, adding that no politician had said that the prime minister will not complete his five-year tenure.

He said dialogue was the beauty of the democratic process, adding that the prime minister should remember the August 2014 situation. He said he was thankful to the prime minister for announcing the construction of a bridge in Sukkur, adding that the whole country belonged to the prime minister.