Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday has left for London for medical checkup whereas the heads of other major political parties will also be in London in the next few days.
London is likely to become hub of Pakistan political activities in the aftermath of Panama Leaks as the chairmen of political parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will depart for London in coming days.
The premier has embarked on United Kingdom (UK) visit for medical checkup as he delayed his checkup numerous times due to national responsibilities and engagements.
At Lahore airport, Nawaz Sharif held informal meeting with Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif, and Ishaq Dar and stated that he is going for medical checkup and will be back in four to five days.
During the visit, PM Nawaz is expected to meet co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari, who is already in London to discuss Panama leaks issue.
On the other hand, Imran Khan would arrive in London tomorrow whereas Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar would reach London on April 15.
Earlier, in a bid to give tough time to Nawaz Sharif’s government on Panama leaks, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a meeting with PPP leaders including Aitzaz Ahsan, Khurshid Shah and Saleem Mandviwala to discuss a joint strategy.
PTI leader Jehangir Tareen also met with Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. The PML-Q leader echoed the demand of other opposition leaders that the issue can only be solved if PM resignation. Tareen stated that the matter was not related to any party but is an international issue for which the opposition should stand united.
Reportedly, PTI chief Imran Khan had also signaled to summon All Parties Conference (APC) to launch a movement against the government.
On April 5, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the nation by television to defend his family’s business practices, denying any wrongdoing and calling corruption claims “old accusations repeated over and over again”.
Nawaz Sharif set up a commission to investigate allegations, based on leaked documents from Panama, that offshore companies headed by members of his family were avoiding paying taxes or disguising assets and their origins.
Last week, leaked documents from the Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm showed that Sharif’s daughter Mariam and sons Hussain and Hassan owned at least three offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands. Mossack Fonseca denied any wrongdoing.
Political opponents, notably Imran Khan, have accused Sharif’s family of having gained the funds illegally through corruption during his two previous stints as prime minister in the 1990s.
Sharif and his family have denied any wrongdoing, saying the assets were gained legally, mainly through the family’s network of businesses and industries in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.