No Zardari-Nawaz understanding on PanamaLeaks: PPP

Says Fazl in a dream; matter to be taken to logical end

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) broke its silence on reports of a meeting between former president Asif Ali Zardari and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, saying that no understanding had been reached with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the PanamaLeaks issue.

The PPP stated that Asif Zardari held no meeting with Fazlur Rehman in London recently and the assertion in a section of the media that the PPP co-chairman had reached some understanding on the issue of PanamaLeaks with the prime minister was untrue and baseless.

In a statement, the PPP stated when the attention of the former president was drawn to a report on a private TV channel implying that in the spirit of reconciliation Zardari had arrived at some understanding with the prime minister on the issue, Zardari not only contradicted these reports but also stated categorically that the party had already decided to pursue the PanamaLeaks issue to its logical conclusion.

“A parliamentary committee has already been set up which is engaged in drawing up the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for investigation and how to proceed in the matter and there is no question of ignoring it,” the PPP statement while quoting Zardari said.

The former president said the party had arrived at a well-considered stance on the issue after due deliberations not only within the party but also with all the political parties.About Fazlur Rehman’s assertions that he has indirectly managed reconciliation between Zardari and Nawaz, the statement said the Maulana was just dreaming.

“Media reports calculated to give any impression that he (Zardari) may have a different stance on the issue are untrue and baseless and seems to be motivated to create confusion,” the statement added.