Former minister of information and broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani has claimed that any commission made by the prime minister or his cabinet will lack, legal, moral and constitutional sanctity, as the involvement of his family members in the issue of Panama Papers has also made him a party in it.
“It is the sole prerogative of the parliament to appoint an enquiry commission to look into the matter and bring forth the truth about these leaked papers,” said Durrani while addressing a press conference at his residence on Friday.
Durrani warned that in case the parliament and politicians fail to act appropriately and justly against those who looted the poor, they will not only lose the people’s trust but will have to face their wrath.
“This is the right and responsibility of the parliament, which is constitutionally a supreme institute to unanimously appoint an enquiry commission and determine its terms of reference (TORs) in a joint session for ascertaining the truth regarding Pakistanis named in Panama Papers,” he stressed.
“And if the duty is not performed on time, the institution will be deemed as protecting the elite interest only,” he added, “The incident has provided the Parliament with an opportunity to rid the country of political, constitutional and legal crisis.”
The ex-minister warned against the face-off in streets and said that, ‘The political confrontation is being fanned by those elements who want to deflect the attention from the looters, it is time to forge an alliance against those who looted money from the masses of Pakistan, violence on roads and streets will only weaken an already decrepit state.’
Durrani said that if parliament can unanimously adopt the Constitution of 1973, 18th Amendment and NAP to curb terrorism, why not take steps bring back looted wealth and laws be made and implemented that no such plunder can empty national exchequer again.
Referring to Charter of Democracy signed back in 2006, he said, ‘Ten years after the signing of a charter of democracy, it is about time that Nawaz Sharif signs a Charter of Anti-Corruption while sitting in his Park Lane flat in London.
The former minister recalled that he is struggling since 2011 to bring back over 500 billion dollar stacked away in hideouts in western countries. ‘Today we’ve knocked at the door of the Parliament on behalf of the Pakistani people, next week we’ll join hands with more than 140 countries to weed out corruption from our midst’, he announced.
He announced to seek help from over 30 organizations including the Star Initiative launched under UN convention against Corruption, 2003, as they are legally bound to help in any such initiative.
A famous saying in UK, " Fetch a thief to catch a thief".
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