Dictation not acceptable, says Nawaz

Asserts if opposition serious in talks on Panama Papers, it must constitute a committee; Shahbaz meets PM; Punjab CM says ready to hold talks with opposition on political issues

LAHORE: Prime Min­ister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said his government would not accept anyone’s dictation on the Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the inquiry commission to be set up for a probe into the PanamaLeaks.

The prime minister, stating his stance clearly, said the government was ready to have negotiations with the opposition parties but it would not accept any dictation. He said if the opposition was serious in holding negotiations with the government over the PanamaLeaks, it must constitute a committee for the purpose.

Nawaz expressed these views as Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif called on him at Jati Umra in Raiwind to discuss matters related to the investigation into the PanamaLeaks. During the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that they were ready to have talks on political issues with the opposition parties.

The prime minister’s reaction came a day after the ruling coalition parties rejected the ToRs proposed by the opposition. In a meeting chaired by the prime minister, the coalition partners authorised him to make any decision on the issue, suggesting to hold consultation with the opposition.

“Opposition has given a one-sided decision, not ToRs of the commission,” said Nawaz.On the occasion, JUI-Fchief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the opposition ToRs were not according to the Constitution and law.

The meeting was also attended by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Mir Hasil Bizenjo of the National Party.Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Chaudhry Nisar, Khawaja Asif and Pervaiz Rasheed were also present in the meeting.

The opposition parties on Tuesday in their ToRs had demanded starting the investigation process from Nawaz and his family. They also said that the investigation commission, led by the chief justice of Pakistan, should submit its report within three months.

The opposition demanded that the inquiry into other individuals named in the PanamaLeaks should be completed within a year, while also calling for hiring the services of international audit experts for carrying out the investigation. The proposed ToRs were sent to the PM Office along with a letter.