PML-Q, JI leaders meet, demand PM’s resignation before JIT formation
LAHORE: A four-party alliance of Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Sunni Ittehad Council, Majlis Wahdatul Musilmeen and Pakistan Awami Tehreek has approved the formation of a grand alliance on the Panama issue, under Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
In a meeting held at the residence of PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Sunday, a six-point joint declaration was issued demanding that performance of the joint investigation team (JIT) should be made public every fortnight. The declaration fully supported the lawyers movement for the resignation of Nawaz Sharif.
PML-Q senior leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was also present in the meeting. The joint declaration said that in the light of the Panama Leaks verdict, the prime minister had become an accused. To fulfill the requirements of justice, it is a must that Nawaz Sharif should resign immediately, so that the JIT investigation could be kept free of unnecessary influence of the prime minister. It demanded that the JIT progress report should be submitted to the SC after every 15 days. It demanded making public the Lahore High Court judge Baqir Najfi’s report on the Model Town tragedy.
The declaration asked for establishing contacts with other opposition parties and forming a coordination committee comprising Tariq Bashir Cheema, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Allama Nasir Abbas.
The meeting was attended among others by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, SM Zafar, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Ch Zaheeruddin, Muhammad Basharat Raja, Dr Khalid Ranjha, Dr Azeemuddin Lakhvi, Mian Munir, Sheikh Umar Hayat, Shadab Jaffery, Pakistan Awami Tehrik leaders Dr Basharat Jaspal, Sunni Ittehad Council's Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Majlis Wahdatul Musilmeen's Allama Nasir Abbas and Asad Abbas Naqvi.
Meanwhile, PML-Q leaders Ch Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi held a meeting with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq-led delegation at their residence and discussed the post-Panama verdict situation.
Other members of the JI delegation were Dr Fareed Paracha, Mian Maqsood Ahmad, Dr Waseem Akhtar, Asghar Gujjar and Qaiser Sharif.
They said in a joint statement that out of five judges of the Supreme Court, none declared PM Nawaz Sharif ‘Sadiqtherefore he should resign prior to appearing before the JIT. They said chief justice of Pakistan should ensure transparency in JIT formation and its performance should be made public after every fortnight.
Talking to the media, the PML-Q and JI leaders said the meeting decided to form a committee comprising two senior lawyers of each party which will monitor working of the JIT on daily basis. A delegation, headed by Ch Shujaat, would viist Mansoora on Monday to formally invite JI to join the grand opposition alliance on Panama issue.
Ch Pervaiz Elahi said there were no differences over agenda of the alliance, and all parties were unanimous against corruption and were in favour of forming the alliance. JI Emir Sirajul Haq appreciated the role of Chaudhry Pervaiz, Tariq Bashir Cheema and Kamil Ali Agha in formulation of joint terms of reference (ToRs) of the opposition on the Panama case. He also thanked Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. He said a joint team of lawyers of Jamaat-e-Islami and Muslim League would be announced shortly.
