ISLAMABAD: Joint opposition on Friday included Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as its member for representation in parliamentary committee for drafting TORs for Panama Leaks probe.
Reportedly, Qaumi Watan Party’s (QWP) Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has stepped down voluntarily, stressing that the number of the body remains six. Dr Farooq Sattar said that Barrister Saif would represent the party from MQM’s side in the parliamentary committee.
Khurshid Shah said that there were some outstanding matters that needed to be discussed with MQM which have now been sorted. He said that the joint opposition would urge the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq to have the committee start its functioning on Monday.
Earlier opposition parties had put a condition on MQM for its inclusion in parliamentary committee as their member for Panama leaks probe.
The parties held a meeting in the federal capital and discussed MQM’s participation in the committee that is supposed to form joint Terms of References (TORs) for probe of Panama leaks.
The meeting headed by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA), Khurshid Shah decided to call MQM as its part after it announces in the media, to agree with joint opposition’s decisions through the course of the TOR committee.
Participants of meeting included Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Leader of the Opposition in Senate, Aitzaz Ahsan, Sahibzada Tariqullah, Tariq Bashir Cheema and MQM’s Sheikh Salahuddin, Muzzamil Qureshi, Abdul Waseem and Dr Farooq Sattar.
MQM representatives maintained that they have opposition benches in the Parliament and should be made part of parliamentary committee as opposition’s side.
National Assembly approved a 12-member committee on Thursday with six members from the government and the opposition each.
Minister for Law Justice Zahid Hamid moved a resolution for establishment of the committee on Wednesday while responsibility to put together the body was left with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
INP