Opposition helps Nawaz get out of hot waters

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appears to be getting out of hot waters on the issue of the Panama Papers as the opposition not only offered to exclude his name from the proposed ToRs for the Judicial Commission but also agreed to expand the scope of the inquiry beyond the PanamaLeaks.

The preamble of the proposed ToRs for the Judicial Commission as agreed by the government and opposition on Thursday resolves not only to probe the Panama Papers but other offshore companies, transfer of funds originating from corruption, commission and kickbacks, and written off loans.

The agreed preamble does not focus on any particular person. However, much to the satisfaction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, no less than the opposition’s most vocal voice Aitzaz Ahsan offered to drop the prime minister’s name from the proposed ToRs.

This offer from the opposition would be a great relief for the government, which from the day one was resisting the inclusion of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s name in any inquiry.

Interestingly, contrary to what is being discussed in the parliamentary committee meeting, the Supreme Court wanted specific names and particular cases for probe instead of groping in the dark.

While the opposition at the very beginning of the parliamentary committee’s deliberations had offered to withdraw the name of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from the proposed ToRs, the real challenge for both the sides is to meet the demand of the Supreme Court which had clearly underlined, “It is necessary to have the list of all individuals, families, groups, companies, etc. with their total number, alongwith some relevant particulars, against whom purported inquiry proceedings are to be held….”

As per the parameters set by the Supreme Court while responding to the government’s request for the formation of the Judicial Commission, the Terms of Reference need to be specific with regard to those who are required to be probed. The ToRs would be acceptable to the apex court for consideration of the Judicial Commission only if specific names/cases along with “relevant particulars” are included in the ToRs.

The Supreme Court had shown its willingness to consider setting up of a Judicial Commission to probe the issues of offshore companies and foreign wealth even beyond the PanamaLeaks’ scope as well as cases of corruption, kickbacks and bank loan default/waive off cases provided (i) the commission is given specific cases, and (ii) empowered.

The apex court, while referring to the paragraph No1(a) and (b) of the government’s ToRs, had set the condition of listing the names and other relevant particulars of individuals, families, groups, etc, who need to be probed for their foreign wealth/offshore companies, corruption and loan default/waive off.