ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has demanded establishment of a commission led by Chief Justice (CJ) Anwar Zaheer Jamali to probe Panama leaks pertaining to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Taking part in the National Assembly debate, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the international consortium of investigative journalists has published these leaks, which also include revelations about 200 Pakistanis.
Qureshi said that a commission that none has reservations on should be formed for Panama leaks probe. The opposition parties do not want to disrespect the Sharif family but seek reforms, he added.
Qureshi demanded that the CJP-led commission be allowed to take expertise of an international firm, proficient in forensic audit.
He called for opting of a democratic, constitutional and morally right way to solve the issue so that the government is able to satisfy the nation. On the occasion, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad referring to Nawaz Sharif, said that if the country has gotten another leader like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the nation should not waste the opportunity.
Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Shazia Marri said that PM Nawaz’s son and daughter have been mentioned in the leaks, how come none was taking suo-moto action. She demanded the Prime Minister to forward his resignation upon which the government members protested and chanted “No, no”.
Marri further called a halt to press conferences held by government leaders using money derived from people’s pockets.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Asif Husnain, upon his turn, said that how come the people who looted country’s treasury were ruling it. Copious loans were being sought from all over the world to run the country, he added.
He said that the Parliament would decide who shall be included in the commission and not the accused. Husnain called for accountability of all the influential people, irrespective of having seats in the Parliament.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad regretted the negative campaign against the family of the Prime Minister in the wake of Panama Papers. He said this family has a history of doing business even before the partition of sub-continent.
He said several cases were registered against the family but it came out clean in all of them. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has a vision to transform the country into an economic power, which is free of power outages. He said the adverse campaign has been started at the international level in order to create obstacles in the forward march of Pakistan. Some forces do not want completion of strategically located Gwadar Port and other infrastructure projects launched by the present government.
The Minister said the PML-N enjoys popular support among the masses because of its development-oriented policies.