- Opp reiterates demands of foreign audit firm and CJP as commission’s head
- Amid sloganeering, treasury benches keep leveling counter allegations on Imran Khan
Emotions ran high at the National Assembly session on Friday where the Panama Leaks were discussed for the second day in a row with the opposition members calling for a forensic audit by a reputable international firm into revelations made regarding the Sharif family’s offshore accounts while the government ministers defended the PM’s family passionately.
The House echoed with slogans from both sides, as government MNAs chanted ‘Ro Imran Ro’, while opposition members retaliated with the viral ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogan during the whole duration of speech made by a government MNA.
The government, however, stuck to the stock reply that opposition is free to approach the Supreme Court. ‘Those who want to approach the SC are not hindered in any way, they are free to do so’.
But the opposition and government kept on raising slogans against the party leaders as the members failed to resolve the issue amicably.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons had not hidden their names in offshore company accounts.
He said that the offshore companies had not harmed Pakistan in anyway. “Those who want to approach the Supreme Court are free to do so.”
He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan also owned many offshore accounts “but was hiding behind the cancer patients”.
Hearing this, the House echoed with “Go Imran Go” slogans, and PTI leaders Shireen Mazari and Murad Saeed stood on their chairs.
After the speaker reprimanded them for behaving childishly and warned of adjourning the session, the parliamentarians calmed down.
Rashid said Imran Khan should present a document showing “where the funds for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital went” and also accused the PTI of “misusing” the funds set aside for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Billion Tree Tsunami project as chants of “Go Nawaz Go” echoed the assembly floor.
CJP MUST HEAD COMMSSION:
PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the government’s explanations regarding the leaks were not satisfactory, and reiterated his party’s call for the chief justice of Pakistan to head a judicial commission probing the leaks.
He expressed satisfaction that there is consensus among the opposition and treasury benches about investigation the Panama Leaks. He said the opposition wants a fully empowered commission, which can unmask the whole truth before the nation.
He said that his party’s aim is not to indulge in mud-slinging but to bring the facts before the public. He said that a commission headed by the chief justice of Pakistan should be constituted, which should be assisted by an international firm with experience of forensic audit to carry out the probe.
He said it is not appropriate to target only the prime minister and his family on the matter, as Panama Papers also includes the names of several other Pakistanis, including politicians. Qureshi said the leaks, which had been published by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, contained revelations about 200 Pakistanis.
He also demanded that the results of the judicial commission be made public.
Qureshi said the National Accountability Bureau, the State Bank of Pakistan, the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Federal Board of Revenue should also investigate 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 the sitting chief justice of Pakistan.
Senior Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri said the government is happy over the Chinese investment in Pakistan, but it is not taking any measure to bring offshore assets back to the country.
The PPP parliamentarian said that a democratic prime minister is accountable to the nation.
She also questioned whether or not the transfer of these funds was restricted by money laundering legislation.
“The PPP prime minister resigned when the court ordered him to,” she said while talking about Yousaf Raza Gilani’s ouster in 2012 following the Supreme Court’s orders. “Panama Leaks is an issue that the opposition whipped up, it’s an international issue,” she said.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Asif Hasnain questioned how Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could constitute a commission when he was at the center of the allegations.
‘YOU ARE NO BETTER’:
Responding to the criticism on Nawaz Sharif, Information Minister Rashid said, “No one has purged himself by bathing in Ganges… It is my leader who presented himself for accountability and made a commission for investigation.”
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad regretted the negative campaign against the family of the prime minister in the wake of Panama Papers. He said this family has a history of doing business even before the partition of the sub-continent.
He said several cases were registered against the family but it was given clean chit in all of them. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has a vision to transform the country into an economic power, which is free of power outages.
He said the adverse campaign has been started at the international level in order to create obstacles in the forward march of Pakistan. He said that some forces do not want completion of the strategically located Gwadar Port and other infrastructure projects launched by the present government.
‘SELECTIVE AND BIASED COVERAGE’:
Leader of the Opposition Khurshid Shah lodged a formal complaint with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on the “selective and biased coverage” of the National Assembly debates by Pakistan Television (PTV), mentioning that he has repeatedly highlighted the issue.
“[PTV] usually broadcasts the government’s point of view and in contrast gives little or no coverage to the speeches of the opposition benches.”
“You are the custodian of this august House and we are looking towards you to take notice of this discriminatory attitude of the PTV which is contrary to the assurances given by Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid.”
Shah also suggested that the NA sessions be live streamed on the internet “so that all and sundry may be able to listen to the views of their representatives”.
Earlier on Tuesday, the opposition rejected the judicial commission announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks and called for a forensic audit of the offshore assets of his family by an international firm that will be independent of government pressure.
Meanwhile, two bills were laid before the House. These are “The Companies Appointment of Legal Advisors Amendment Bill, 2016”, and “The Central Law Officers Amendment Bill, 2016”.
The bills were moved by Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid.
Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada laid before the House the Annual Report of the Council of Common Interests for the year 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Khalida Mansoor and others in National Assembly, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada said the national cricket team disappointed the cricket fans with their poor performance in the World T20.
He said the government will take all the necessary steps to bring improvements in the cricket structure.
He said that as a short-term measure the selection committee is being replaced while advertisement has also been placed to hire a new coach. He said that the T20 captain has also been replaced.
The politicians are behaving like spoilt children. They've been caught with their stolen goodies and are now making a fuss about it. This is why Pakistan doesn't make any progress. We know where these politicians are going to go, as things in the country get worse – abroad to the safety of their offshore accounts. The lackeys of the Prime Minister are much worse than the Prime Minister himself, sucking up to him without any pride.
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