Panama leaks: Khursheed Shah forwards joint TORs to PM Nawaz

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly (NA) Khursheed Shah has formally forwarded Terms of References (TORs), jointly compiled by opposition parties for probe of Panama leaks, to Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif Dunya News reported Thursday.

The Opposition Leader in National Assembly moved a one-page letter, attaching along the TORs, to the Prime Minister. Shah has demanded the Prime Minister to agree with opposition s Terms of Reference.

Shah held a meeting with Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed earlier today and discussed forwarding the TORs. 

The Opposition Leader in NA had held the TORs on Wednesday, a day after they were finalised, to take leaders of different opposition parties in confidence.

Know more: Opposition holds TORs until allies taken in confidence

Shah called on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership, Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Sirajul Haq and others last evening and discussed the joint Terms of References.

The Opposition Leader in NA said that the opposition was willing to have a dialogue with the government upon the Terms of References made in regards to the commission, formed to probe Panama leaks.

While conversing in programme “Nuqta-e-Nazar” on Dunya News, Shah stated that there never was a denial regarding dialogue upon the TORs as only a dictator would deny negotiations. He stated that there was nothing wrong with the TORs formed by the opposition parties. He said that the Prime Minister needs to provide answers in regards to his sons being named in the Panama Papers.

“If sons of a country’s Prime Minister do not pay taxes then how can he expect others to pay taxes?” Shah inquired, adding that the PM was trying to prove his innocence by spending millions of Rupees in advertisements propagating his stance. Shah said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was aware that late Benazir Bhutto would not assume status of country’s Prime Minister for the third time, adding that amendment was done in the constitution during PPP’s tenure to ensure that Nawaz Sharif do takes the throne for the third time.

“Why would we want Nawaz Sharif to lose his office then?” He asked. PPP’s senior member cleared that the opposition parties only wanted accountability of all starting the process with PM Nawaz and his family.

Shah maintained that transparent investigation of the leaks published by Panama Papers could only be done through the TORs presented by the opposition parties. The Prime Minister should not avoid investigation when he has claimed his innocence since the beginning of Panama uproar, he added.

On the other hand, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, while presenting government s stance in the issue at a press conference on Wednesday, said that opposition parties were politicizing the matter and conducting rallies to target a person. 

Know more: Govt rejects opposition s TORs, clears Nisar

He said that Prime Minister Nawaz was the first leader in the world to take action after law firm s leaks that were published in Panama Papers. He announced to form a commission to hold influential persons accountable of their earnings.

The federal minister criticised the opposition parties for allegedly using the situation for political gains.

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