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  Pakistan: Opposition blasts government on Panama leaks

Pakistan: Opposition blasts government on Panama leaks

Published : Apr 9, 2016, 7:19 am IST
Updated : Apr 9, 2016, 7:19 am IST

Pakistan’s Opposition parties on Friday blasted the government for the second day running as Panama leaks were debated in the Parliament.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia (Photo: PTI)
 Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia (Photo: PTI)

Pakistan’s Opposition parties on Friday blasted the government for the second day running as Panama leaks were debated in the Parliament.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi reiterated the demand for a judicial commission, led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan to probe the issue of Panama leaks. He said the commission should be assisted by a reputed international forensic audit firm.

Mr Qureshi said it was an issue of international importance and the Parliament and people of Pakistan should be taken into confidence on its probe, adding that the entire nation wanted credible investigation of the issue.

The House should deliberate upon the formation of the commission and its terms of references (TORs), while its time-frame should also be given, he added.

“It is not only an issue of the Sharif family but names of 200 Pakistanis are also included in the report and it is the right of the Parliament and people to know about it,” he added.

He also questioned the silence of the national accountability bureau, governor State Bank of Pakistan, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and election commission of Pakistan over the issue.

PTI’s Jehangir Tareen said the commission under retired judges announced by the PM would not make any difference, instead a body should be constituted under sitting Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri said the government was happy over Chinese investment in Pakistan, but not taking any measure to bring offshore assets back to the country.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Asif Hasnain questioned how Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif can constitute the commission as he is at centre of the allegations.

Responding to the criticism on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, information minister Pervez Rashid made a fiery speech in the house.

“None has purged himself by bathing in Ganges It is my leader who presents himself for accountability and made commission for investigation,” the minister thundered in the house.

Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said the Sharif family was in the business since 1935 and when Pakistan came into being, this family was a big industrialist family.

He said it was not appropriate to question the source of income of such a family.

The minister said the Sharif family was passing through various accountability processes since 1985 but no corruption charges could be proved against them in the courts of law.

Mr Aftab said a malicious campaign had been launched to malign the government and to block the way of progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

He said Prime Minister Sharif wanted to make Pakistan economically strong country and $46 billion investment from China was a proof of it.

He said under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project a network of roads infrastructure and energy projects were being set up to make Pakistan self sufficient in energy and to get rid of load-shedding.

The minister said despite all the hue and cry, Prime Minister Sharif and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was a popular party and if a referendum was held in the country “Our party would get 90 per cent votes.” He added that the PML-N would also win the 2018 polls.

He urged the Opposition to come forward and play their role in making Pakistan an important country of the world.

Location: Pakistan, Islamabad