Says not seeking PM’s resignation; premier himself inviting trouble; offers to make joint ToRs with govt on Panama Leaks probe
ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said on Thursday that the opposition was not in a mood to fight the government on the issue of the Panama Leaks probe.
Talking to media persons at the Parliament House, Khursheed Shah said the opposition had never sought the prime minister’s resignation. He said the premier had himself invited the trouble. He expressed his readiness to accept the invitation of the government for a dialogue on the terms of reference (ToRs) for the Judicial Commission to probe those who were named in the Panama Leaks.
“Though the government has not contacted us for the dialogue yet the opposition is ready to resolve the issue through dialogue as there is no last word in politics and the issue could be resolved through dialogue,” said the opposition leader.
The government on Wednesday, while rejecting the opposition’s ToRs, showed its willingness to hold a dialogue with the opposition.Meanwhile, Khursheed Shah dispatched the ToRs drafted by the opposition and joint declaration of the opposition moot of May 2 to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by writing a letter for probing those named in the Panama Leaks. The opposition leader, prior to sending a letter to the prime minister, held consultations with all the nine opposition parties that had participated in the opposition moot and in his letter he appraised the prime minister of the stance of opposition parties on the ToRs for the inquiry commission on Panama Leaks.
The PPP stalwart also attached the joint communiqué of the meeting of opposition parties, held on May 02. In his letter, Khursheed Shah stated, “The declaration adopted by the joint opposition on May 2, 2016 as well as the legal requirements and terms of reference for the Panama Papers inquiry agreed to on May 3, 2016 are enclosed. Both have been adopted unanimously. This is for further necessary action by the government.”
While talking to media persons, Khursheed said the opposition had not demanded the prime minister’s resignation but given him an opportunity to present himself before parliament and explain his side. “We asked for the start of accountability from the prime minister as he was the chief executive of the country. We have named the prime minister in our ToRs because it was his moral obligation,” he said.
He said the prime minister’s family had confessed to evading taxes. He demanded holding those who either evaded taxes or got them written off accountable.