Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Sunday said the commission on Panama Papers Leaks was a litmus test of character as the honest would welcome it and the dishonest would reject it to save themselves and their companions.
Speaking at ‘Meet the Press’ alongside Barrister Zafarullah Khan here at the Lahore Press Club (LPC), the minister said Imran Khan’s refusal to accept the commission was the victory of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Had Imran Khan’s companions not been involved in corruption cases, he would not have refused to accept the Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the commission on Panama Papers, he added.
To a query, the minister said most of the investors of Imran Khan’s political campaign and ‘fun-fairs’ were involved in different scams like the EOBI, graveyard land and writing-off loans.
Regarding the commission’s ToRs, Pervaiz Rashid said comprehensive sections of the Terms of Reference had exposed the skeletons in the cupboards of PTI leadership. The announcement of the commission under the CJP had exposed their weaknesses because the TORs would help expose all those who were involved in tax evasion and bank defaults, he added.
“Imran Khan and his companions will be exposed during the first few days of the constitution of the commission under the chief justice of Supreme Court,” he said.
Senator Rashid said all suggestions on the floor of the parliament from all political parties, besides the points raised during discussions in the media, had been made part of the ToRs. A committee comprising ministers Ishaq Dar, Saad Rafique and others had also contacted other political parties on the issue.
To a question, the Information Minister said Imran Khan propagated that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was involved in some immoral business act and that was the reason why he was shy of formulating a commission under the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) but the government took up the challenge and the Prime Minister presented himself for accountability.
Responding to another question, he said the Prime Minister had decided to ask the CJP to constitute the commission to probe the Panama Papers’ allegations as a moral responsibility although no reference was made about Nawaz Sharif in the Leaks neither his family members were alleged of any wrongdoing or illegality through offshore companies.
To another query, the minister said the family of the Prime Minister was victimized on many occasions in the past. Twice the governments of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto put the Sharif family to the altar of accountability while the third time dictator Pervez Musharraf subjected them to the worst accountability, but on all the three occasions there was nothing to prove against the Sharifs.
“Thrice we were put to the Strainer of accountability by the opponents, and one was the worst opponent who wanted to exterminate us, but Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif came out clean on all these occasions as there was nothing against him or his family,” Pervaiz Rashid saidd.
To another query, the minister said some elements wanted to halt economic progress through allegations of election rigging and Panama Papers but the masses would thwart the evil designs of detractors. The country’s security institutions had hinted in the past that some international forces were involved to detract economic progress in the country through conspiracies.
Regarding conspiracies, Senator Pervaiz Rashid said the country’s progress did not suit the hegemonic designs of some regional powers. If Pakistan became an economic power with the assistance of China it would hurt the interests of many internal and external forces, he added.
Regarding the government’s achievements, he said the economic experts had forecast in 2013 that the country would default by 2015. But Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s government had saved the country from such a fate and managed the largest investment in its history.
“Some players started a puppet show on a container to stop such a huge investment in the country but the government not only defeated these elements but announced work on all the projects within six months of the foundation laying ceremonies,” he said. All the projects, he added, would be completed by the end of 2017.
To a question, the minister said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s political rivals like Imran Khan were also aware that they were losing political space for the 2018 general elections and hence they decided to malign the Prime Minister through political bluff like Panama Papers.
To another query, Pervaiz Rashid said investments abroad did not raise moral questions. The world had become a global village and the businessmen invested in their countries as well as abroad. The Prime Minister’s sons were forced by a dictator to go abroad and set up their businesses.
About Senator Aitzaz Ahsan of the PPP, the federal information minister said the PPP leader had shown a narrow-minded attitude towards judiciary for whose restoration he had worked day and night.
To a question, he said it was Aitzaz Ahsan who had accepted Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as an honest and upright leader that was why he took the back seat of the vehicle in which Nawaz Sharif led the movement for the restoration of judiciary in the country.
“Why did you twice persuade Nawaz Sharif to lead the movement for the restoration of the judiciary if he was not an honest leader,” Pervaiz Rashid asked Aitzaz Ahsan.
To a question, he said it was good that Imran Khan and his companions would have to face the strainer of accountability before the 2018 general elections so that their truthfulness, honesty and morality could be exposed before the nation.
Regarding the ToRs, the minister said that these were comprehensive and addressed the issue thoroughly as the commission would look into different issues, including the illegalities of offshore companies, commissions, kickbacks and cases of written off loans. The government agencies including FIA, NAB and police would be at the beck and call of the commission with the powers to ensure forensic audit by audit companies.
He said the commission would fix responsibility and expose the people who had plundered public money.
On intimidating the opposition, the information minister said the government did not want to intimidate anyone and the opposition could not be intimidated. The government was asked to constitute a commission to probe the Panama Papers Leaks and let’s see who stands in submission before the commission.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Barrister Zafarullah Khan underlined the legal aspects of the TORs and explained their various sections.
He said that the commission was set up to investigate Pakistani citizens, people of Pakistani origin abroad and trusts, legal entities, partnership and offshore companies, besides public office-holders who were involved in cases of commission, kickbacks and written off loans.
The Barrister said the commission could summon from a peon to the president for investigations and hold forensic audit while all agencies like FIA, police, NAB, FBR with federal and provincial institutions were subordinate to it. He said the FBR was bound to share information under Article 216 of the Income Tax Ordinance.
Zafarullah Khan said only people with privileges were out of bound of the commission while every other person was liable to provide information to the commission on demand.
To a query, he said the CJP would decide on the number of the members of the commission while the government had requested hin to head the commission.
To a question, he said that Pakistan was a signatory of the Mutual Legal Assistance Convention and thus FIA, NAB and police could seek information from other countries. All big four audit companies of the world have sub-offices in Pakistan and the commission could approach them.
To a query, he said no time frame was fixed for the commission as the commission would decide it in the shortest possible time. The Cabinet Division would provide secretarial support and bear the financial cost of the investigations on the commission on the Panama Papers leaks.
Is prevail Rasheed for real or his head is where the sun doesn't shine. Nawaz is a crook and all who support him are crooks too.
Chamchas will be Chamchas. I wonder who will win 'Chamcha of the year' award this time in PML's annual Chamcha-awarding Ceremony!
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