The formation of a judicial commission to investigate Panama Papers, accusing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family of having huge offshore wealth, has been challenged in the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry.
The petition challenging the commission was filed by Barrister Zafarullah Khan.
It was argued in the plea that Panama leaks corruption was a political matter while formation of commission was just a tactic to throw red herring into the matter.
The petitioner contended that a parliamentary committee should be formed to probe Panama leaks.
If corruption charges proved against the government in the committee probe, then a no-confidence motion be tabled in the parliament.
He said the parliament rules allow to bring government to accountability, hence formation of judicial commission be stopped. While government plea for constituting the judicial body be declared void, it was stated.
PM Nawaz Sharif on April 22 pledged to resign if a probe related to the Panama Papers tax scandal found his family had committed any wrongdoing.
Three of Sharif’s children were named in a vast leak of documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca this month that has revealed how the wealthy hide their money.
He also pledged to create a new judicial commission headed by a retired judge to investigate the allegations, after his first proposal was rejected by lawmakers.
“If the allegations leveled against me and my family members are proved, I will resign without any delay,” he said.
“I hereby announce (I will) write to the chief justice, asking him to lead the judicial commission, which will investigate revelations made in the Panama Papers.”
