After a high level meeting of the government’s legal team, the government has finally decided to constitute a judicial commission under the supervision of a retired senior judge to probe the so-called Panama Leaks.
Reliable sources told Pakistan Today that following pressure from the opposition parties of the country, the government has tasked its legal team with forming a judicial commission as soon as possible.
Yesterday, a high-level meeting attended by Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Ashter Ausaf, former AGP Salman Butt and others who looked into the matter at length. It was decided in the meeting that the legal team will finalise the name of the retired judge who will head the commission within 24 to 48 hours.
Sources said the legal team has approached three to four retired judges of the Supreme Court who have shown willingness to head the high profile commission.
FORENSIC AUDIT FIRM TO BE HIRED THROUGH PPRA:
The matter of probing the involvement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family through forensic experts was also discussed in the meeting, sources said.
The legal team decided to hire the services of some renowned chartered accountancy firms like KPMG and Fergusons through an open tender under the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority is an autonomous body endowed with the responsibility of prescribing regulations and procedures for public procurements by government-owned public sector organisations.
Sources said that if the government intends to engage a forensic expert for the commission through PPRA, it might take six months under the PPRA rules.
On the other hand, high-level sources in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) told Pakistan Today that the party was not concerned by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s announcement to besiege the Raiwind estate of the prime minister.
“The PM’s Jati Umra residence is quite far from Lahore and has more than one access routes so there is no immediate concern for the family’s smooth travel. Moreover, the PM travels by a helicopter to and from Lahore so a siege-like situation outside his estate won’t cause much hassle to him,” said a source.
“Tuesday’s statement issued by the Chief Justice of Pakistan is also a dampener for Imran Khan as the top judge has clearly said that forming a commission is the executive’s responsibility,” said the source, adding that Supreme Court Bar Association President Ali Zafar had also ruled out a judicial commission with the CJP as its head.
The source said that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was the one who had asked the PM to go to London for treatment as it had been delayed for long enough. “Heeding to Nisar’s request, PM Nawaz decided to hand over official business to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for some days until his scheduled return home on Sunday,” the source added.
Media should start a clock from the time he announced commission till it is on ground.
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