- Govt accepts PPP’s demand of formulating ‘new law’ for investigating Panama Leaks issue, as relentless PTI chief Imran Khan says his party will move SC against premier
As the federal government and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) appeared to come closer to each other with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar saying on Tuesday he had reached an agreement with Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah to introduce a new law to investigate the Panama Leaks issue, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan leveled new allegations against the PM on the same day, and announced his attention to approach the Supreme Court against the premier.
A meeting was held between Khursheed Shah and Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to discuss the issue of investigation pertaining to the Panama Papers controversy. Shah said that during the meeting, the two discussed the terms of reference (TORs) for the judicial commission which would hold an inquiry into the disclosures of the Panama Papers.
The government had earlier insisted that it would introduce amendments in the Commission of Inquiry Act of 1956 instead of bringing a new law.
“We have reached an agreement on the formation of a new law to investigate the findings of the Panama Papers,” Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday. “For the last sixty years, a single law has been in operation which was deemed ineffective by the Supreme Court,” he added.
Ishaq Dar further said that in order to investigate corruption, there was a need to strengthen the law. Dar further said that the government would try to call a meeting in connection with the terms of reference as soon as possible.
Shah said that there was agreement between the government and the opposition regarding the new law but a disagreement on the process of how to conduct the investigation. He said that schedule for the next meeting on TORs would be announced after consulting Aitzaz Ahsan.
PTI TO APPROACH SUPREME COURT:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced on Tuesday that his party will approach the Supreme Court over the issue of Panama Papers.
Talking to newsmen in Islamabad, he said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a beneficiary of Shamrock Corporation and his children were not the only ones who owned offshore companies.
“The revelation about Shamrock Corporation was made in the World Bank’s report. As much as $300,000 was transferred to the corporation’s account.”
He said that the evidence of money laundering will be presented in the court, adding that corruption is destroying Pakistan.
The PTI chairman said that he would soon unearth another scandal of Nawaz Sharif.
Responding to a recent statement of Narendra Modi, he said that the Indian prime minister is wrong in saying that the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is tense.
Imran condemned the Indian prime minister’s comments on Balochistan and said PM Nawaz should set aside his business interests and act like a prime minister, taking a strong stance against Modi’s statement.
Imran further said that the world’s silence over the atrocities being committed by the Indian forces was regretful.
Khan also announced to hold a nationwide anti-corruption campaign next month over Panama Papers revelations if the government fails to come clean about the controversy.
“We will organise Pakistan March in September and will move the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the government over the Panama Papers,” Imran said while addressing a news conference at his house in Bani Gala.
He also presented documentary ‘proofs’ of Prime Minister Nawaz’s alleged money laundering cases, saying it was decided in the PTI’s party meeting to hold rallies in the coming weeks in Gujrat and Jehlum.
“We will start the rally form Gujranwala and if the government fails to give answers we will start marching towards Lahore on September 3,” Imran drew out his party’s future strategy.
Replying to a question over the lack of popularity of the PTI’s movement, Imran said that he is not concerned about his fame and wants to initiate the movement against corruption.
“Even if my popularity goes down, I will not stop pursuing this matter,” he said, claiming that no party is as popular as his.
OPPOSITION PARTIES TO MEET TODAY:
Meanwhile, the opposition parties have summoned a meeting today (Wednesday) to finalise a decisive strategy regarding the deadlock over TORs with the government on the Panama Leaks probe.
Members of the joint opposition will convene a meeting in office of Leader of Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan today at 11am.
