Once again leaders of opposition met to discuss future course of action for the parliamentary committee on Terms of References (ToRs) regarding revelations of Panama Papers.
Meeting was attended by senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Aitzaz Ahsan and senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Shah Mehmood Qureshi along with Sahibzada Tariqulah, Barrister Saif, Tariq Bashir Cheema etc. Aitzaz Ahsan was of the view that because government is using delaying tactics and refusing to accept the opposition’s fair and relevant demands, the deadlock is likely to persist. Shah Mehmood Qureshi went a step ahead and said opposition will hold protest against the government if their demands and proposals for ToRs are not accepted.
It seems that opposition is firmed on not taking back step from their core questions under any circumstances. Particularly, PTI Chief has stated categorically that his party would not retreat from its stance of Prime Minister’s accountability come what may. Just to keep their focus on the demand of accountability, PTI has decided to postpone the intra-party elections.
In spite of moving towards another confrontation, members of government and opposition in parliamentary committee should find the mechanism to probe the findings of Panama Papers. Both the parties should conduct discussions in good faith to move forward. It is being considered that that two sides would try to influence through media on each other to get their demands accepted. For instance rumours were spread that opposition has agreed to exclude name of Prime Minister from the proposed ToRs, but opposition denied it strongly. It would be in the best interest of the two sides not to leak-out any development regarding ToRs until final agreement takes place.
Both sides should conduct discussions on ToRs in good faith.
