ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Daniyal Aziz on Saturday said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had become the victim of a “grave mistake”. He also insisted that the definition of the word ‘assets’ used by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers verdict does not exist in the Black’s Law dictionary.
The PML-N leader insisted that receivables, if not received, cannot be classified as assets, contrary to what was decided in the July 28 ruling by the Supreme Court disqualifying former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding public office.
Speaking to the reporters in the federal capital, Aziz said a petition would be filed in the apex court to remove the ambiguity about the definition of ‘assets’ after consultation with tax bars, accounting firms, media, chambers of commerce and industries, parliament, and provincial legislatures.
He said the Black Law Dictionary was used for reviewing international treaties and documents. It was first published in 891 and ten more editions had been issued since then, but none of them had such definition of the word ‘assets’ which was quoted by the court, he added.
He claimed that the definition of ‘assets’ quoted by apex court would affect the country’s entire tax and economic system.
“The court’s decision will have an impact on the entire tax system and economy,” he said, adding the decision has changed an entire system.
Aziz, however, insisted that he could not even ‘think of disrespecting the institutions.’
“I have been awarded medals for strengthening institutions,” he said, “but as a citizen and a Member of the National Assembly (MNA), I have some rights.”
He added that he [and his party] has fought battles to strengthen the judiciary of Pakistan.
Earlier, talking to a news channel, he said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was involved in corruption of funds donated from abroad, and his own confessional statements in that regard were on record.
He added the counsel of PTI chief had confessed in the court that Imran Khan owed an offshore company in the name of Niazi Services Ltd.
Accountability process should be initiated against Imran Khan and his party’s secretary general Jahangir Tareen, who also owned offshore companies, he added.
Daniyal said allegations of corruption were levelled against former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif but he was disqualified for having an Iqama.
Nawaz’s disqualification, he said, was a conspiracy against the PML-N. He said the names of Nawaz Sharif and Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar were not mentioned in the Panama Papers.
Federal Minister for Privatisation @DaniyalNA116 holding a Press Conference at #PID https://t.co/rUOO4OebL0
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) October 21, 2017
