PM welcomes SC taking up Panama case

Says let’s wait for the verdict of court of law

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, claiming that he believes in upholding the Constitution, the rule of law and complete transparency, asked the agitation mongers to better wait for the highest court of the country’s verdict in the Panama Papers issue as the court of the people was giving its judgment time and again in his favour.

“I wholeheartedly welcome the start of proceedings in the Supreme Court with regard to the Panama Papers,” the prime minister said. Addressing a consultative meeting of legal experts immediately after the Supreme Court hearing of the petitions on Panama Papers here at the Prime Minister’s House on Thursday, Nawaz remarked that the government wouldn’t permit the troublemakers to slow down or halt the process of progress and development of the country.

The meeting was also attended by federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Attorney General Aushtar Ausaf, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Law and Justice Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Adviser on Culture Professor Irfan Siddiqui and former attorney general Salman Aslam Butt, Advocate.

Highly-placed sources told The News that Nawaz didn’t entertain the idea of challenging the issuance of notice by the learned court but contrary to that he asked his legal team to be positive and supportive in carrying the proceedings of the honourable court forward at a faster pace.

Attorney General Aushtar Ausaf briefed the meeting about the proceedings of the court earlier in the day. The prime minister welcomed the Supreme Court’s proceedings into the Panama Papers issue with an open heart and reminded that since the beginning of Panama reports and even before any demand was made by the opposition, he had announced a commission comprising retired judges of the Supreme Court, with the spirit of bringing the actual facts before the nation, through a transparent inquiry. In response of this, Nawaz Sharif said, the only demand came (from the opposition) was the formation of a commission headed by the chief justice of Pakistan and comprising serving judges of the Supreme Court.

The prime minister said he accepted that demand too without any hesitation; however, by starting the controversy of TORs (Terms of Reference), hurdles were created.

Nawaz recalled that the government, in the light of points raised by the Supreme Court, constituted a parliamentary committee for finalising the unanimous TORs. Despite the clear majority of the government in parliament, in terms of numbers, the opposition was given an equal representation in the parliamentary committee, he said.

“Despite all our efforts, consensus could not be achieved,” he said. The prime minister said the government, in the light of the Supreme Court’s letter, presented a bill in parliament to change the 1956 Court of Inquiry Act and make the commission effective and powerful. But by carrying on continued negative attitude and, contrary to the standard constitutional and legal requirements, a parallel bill was presented, he added.

Nawaz said that besides addressing the nation twice on this subject, he also presented his detailed view in the National Assembly but sabotaging all sincere government efforts, hurdles were created continuously in the way of a transparent and impartial inquiry from the other side.

He said, “The issue of Panama Papers has now been brought before the Election Commission, Lahore High Court and the Supreme Court. I fully believe in upholding the supremacy of Constitution, rule of law and complete transparency. The court of people is giving its verdict again and again. It will be better to wait for the court’s verdict as well,” the prime minister maintained.