Senate adopts resolution against MQM founder
Panama Papers Inquires Act, 2016 tabled in the Senate
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Senate on Monday has unanimously adopted a resolution against founder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain over the anti-state slogans and storming of media houses in Karachi last month.
The development has come in after a joint resolution was approved in Sindh Assembly last week. The resolution was moved jointly by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-eInsaf, Muslim League-Functional and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan.
Reportedly, at least half of the elected members of the Senate were absent to witness the development.
Hussain had addressed a gathering of party activists in Karachi in August which witnessed anti-Pakistan slogans. The MQM workers later stormed offices of ARY News and Samaa television channel prompting a crackdown against the party across Sindh. Over two dozen offices of MQM were razed in the confrontation with the government that ensued.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Senate, Aitzaz Ahsan presented the Panama Papers Inquires Act, 2016 today on behalf of the opposition parties over probe into Panama leaks against premier’s daughter and two sons who were named in April in documents relating to offshore companies that were leaked from database of a Panama-based law firm, Mossack Fonseca.
The bill was forwarded to the standing committee concerned for proceedings.
Minister for Law and Justice, Zahid Hamid among other government members censured the move by the lawmakers associated with differnet opposition parties.
Criticising the bill, Hamid said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not named in the leaks but the opposition parties were adamant to get him probed by hook or crook.
Responding to the allegation, Ahsan cleared that the bill was not meant to target a person, in this case, the premier but to hold everyone accountable for the accumulated wealth and means of income.
He let the participants know that at least 32 senators favoured the bill while 19 raised their voice against it.
Panama Papers had published documents, leaked from Mossack Fonseca, in April this year after they were studied by Consortium of Investigative Journalists naming at least 140 either incumbent or former leaders of different countries for owning shell companies.
Opposition parties in Pakistan saw the offshore companies as premier’s means to stash wealth abroad and evade taxes.
A probe was called by the joint opposition and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Khurshid Shah boycotted the sessions only to accept Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s offer to form a committee to finalise Terms of References for the investigations.
After a number of meetings in the recent past, the committee has failed to put forth the TORs for probe under Supreme Court.
