Embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday left for Pakistan amid a raging scandal back home over his family’s offshore wealth after the Panama papers leak mentioned his children’s name for havi
Embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday left for Pakistan amid a raging scandal back home over his family’s offshore wealth after the Panama papers leak mentioned his children’s name for having shell companies.
Mr Sharif dashed to the UK last week for “medical treatment” amid reports he was under immense pressure to quit over the unfolding scandal, that mentioned the names of his two sons and a daughter as having shell companies through which they owned expensive residential properties in London.
The timing of his UK visit had prompted rumours that Mr Sharif might not return to the country until investigations were completed and that his government may fall over the leak.
Hours before Mr Sharif’s arrival in Pakistan from UK, Pakistan Army Chief Raheel Sharif on Tuesday said that the ongoing war against terrorism and extremism cannot bring enduring peace and stability unless the menace of corruption is not uprooted. He added that accountability at all levels was necessary in order to wipe out corruption. Addressing troops and officers in Kohat, he said peace and stability were not possible without curbing corruption.
The Army had the support of the entire nation in the war against terrorism, Gen. Sharif said, adding that both the civil and the military leadership of the country is working together to curb terrorism.
Gen. Raheel’s remarks assume significance in the wake of raging scandal in Pakistan over Mr Sharif’s family offshore wealth after the Panama Papers leak mentioned his children’s name for having shell companies. “Ongoing war against terrorism and extremism being fought with the backing of entire nation cannot bring enduring peace and stability unless the menace of corruption is not uprooted,” Gen. Raheel said during his visit to Kohat.
“Therefore, across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan. Pakistan Armed Forces will fully support every meaningful effort in that direction, which would ensure a better future for our next generations,” he said. Before leaving for Pakistan after a week-long stay in the UK, Mr Sharif told media that he was in favour of setting up a formal investigation into the scandal.
Mr Sharif, an affluent businessman with interests in the steel sector, said efforts were underway to appoint a judge and finalise his team to carry out the formal probe.
