Patriot Report
ISLAMABAD: The coalition parties in government have expressed concern over the joint opposition terms of references (ToRs) for Panama leaks inquiry commission, saying the rules framed by the opposition parties were contrary to the law and the country’s constitution.
The coalition partners decided that a committee, comprising of members from coalition parties, will be formed and opposition parties will be contacted soon to discuss the matter.
Speaking to media after the meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rehman regretted that opposition parties have adopted a contradictory stance on the investigation of Panama papers. He said the prime minister first announced formation of the commission under supervision of retired judges, but the opposition did not agree to it, and made it controversial. He said it is a matter of surprise that the opposition is ready to get the investigation done by a retired bureaucrat, but not by a retired judge.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the opposition parties should make their demands while remaining within the norms of democratic traditions. He said it was on the demand of the opposition parties that the prime minister wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for formation of commission but now it is trying to make the ToRs controversial. He said the opposition has always backtracked from its demand regarding Panama investigation. He said it was their first meeting with the prime minister on the ToRs, and they have asked him to continue the consultation process on the matter.
The meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was attended by JIU-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Hasil Bazenjo, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Akram Durrani, Ejazul Haq, Professor Sajid Mir and ministers Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Zahid Hamid and Pervaiz Rashid.