Sharif returns home as all is well now

• Imran Khan says PTI won’t budge from its demand of making CJP head of Panama Papers probe

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who left for London last week amid the opposition’s uproar over the Panama Leaks revelations is set to return to the country on Tuesday (today), his younger brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Monday, rejecting rumours making rounds in the country that the premier would not return to Pakistan to face the pressure mounting over the scandal that has seen several government leaders across the world stepping down from their positions.

Meanwhile, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), facing stiff resistance from the opposition, has announced that it will take the leader of the parliamentary parties on board vis-à-vis the formation of the proposed enquiry commission to probe the Panama Leaks.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Monday night that PM was feeling a lot better after the check up and would return on Tuesday. He attributed the PM’s early recovery to prayers offered by the people of Pakistan.

While the PML-N said it would take all parliamentary parties on board before making a final decision regarding the proposed enquiry commission, the party leaders still appeared to be sticking with Justice (r) Sarmad Osmany, who they said would head the commission, despite the fact that both the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have rejected the proposal.

The PML-N took the decision of reaching out to opposition parties in a meeting held at the PM House under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, said a press release.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Law Minister Zahid Hamid, Minister for SAFRON Abdul Qadir Baloch, Adviser to PM Irfan Siddiqui, Senator Mushahidullah and Minister of State for IT Anusha Rehman attended the meeting which discussed the enquiry commission and its mandate.

According to sources, the participants agreed on Justice (r) Sarmad Jalal Osmany’s name to head the inquiry commission on the issue of Panama leaks.

The meeting stressed to ensure execution of development projects more swiftly and foil the conspiracy to bring political instability in the country.

The participants of the high level meeting also emphasised that the efforts for restoration of law and order, deliverance from energy crisis and the implementation of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other infrastructure projects should continue at the same pace.

The meeting also discussed electoral reforms to ensure transparency in the electoral process.

OSMANY WON’T DO:

Meanwhile, the PPP has rejected Justice (r) Sarmad Osmany’s name, saying that they have already expressed reservations over his selection.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah had previously suggested Senator Raza Rabbani’s name to spearhead the investigation. Rabbani, however, said he would not lead the investigation as he had no expertise in investigating white collar crimes.

‘OUR DEMANDS STAND’:

PTI Chairman Imran Khan, meanwhile, said that his party’s would not budge from their demands regarding the commission and that the issue will be raised at every forum.

Khan, who returned to Pakistan Monday morning following ‘legal consultations’ in London to devise a strategy against the government, reiterated his condemnation of the prime minister for having stashed illegal money abroad.

Khan, speaking to media upon arrival, said the PTI would only accept a judicial commission headed by the chief justice of Pakistan to probe Panama Leaks.

“We will go to any length if our demands are not met peacefully,” the PTI chairman warned.

Khan said the commission that the government was trying to constitute was mere eyewash and would not serve any purpose. He claimed that the PM’s daughter Maryam is trying to form a commission which is aimed at covering up tax evasion among the ruling elite.

However, the PTI chief also prayed for better health of the prime minister and hoped he would soon return to the country.

Khan said the government’s commission is being formed on the basis of collusion. He said he had contacted forensic experts while he was in London and said a lot of revelations regarding corruption will be come to light in the coming days.

He said that the party will continue its struggle until a commission led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan is formed.

After the meeting of the organising committee, PTI leader Naeemul Haque said that party’s future strategy will be decided after consultation with other political parties.