Deputy speaker prorogues NA session after opposition's anti-PM slogans
Opposition parties tore off the copies of agenda in a protest and demanded the premier to resign.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – A day after Supreme Court (SC) announced highly-anticipated Panama Papers case verdict, brouhaha was witnessed during National Assembly session today (Friday) as opposition parties chanted slogans against Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif.
The session was presided over by Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi.
Speaking on the occasion, Opposition Leader in NA Khusheed Shah demanded PM Nawaz Sharif to immediately resign and protect the Parliament. He termed joint investigation team to probe Panama Leaks case as ‘drama’ and also requested the deputy speaker to allow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan to address the House.
Aggressively responding to Khursheed Shah’s demand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sheikh Aftab said that opposition, who participated in the session while wearing black armbands, is facing disappointment after Panamagate verdict and said that Nawaz Sharif will remain PM until completion of his tenure.
Sheikh Aftab’s speech sparked anger among opposition who surrounded the deputy speaker’s rostrum and tore off the copies of agenda in a protest. They also raised ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogans and asked Nawaz Sharif to leave the office.
Keeping in view the intensified situation, the deputy speaker prorogued NA session.
Earlier, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa announced Panama Leaks case decision comprising of 540 pages. The court issued a split ruling calling for a joint investigation team of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), State Bank of Pakistan, Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence that will be headed by a director-general level FIA officer.
"A thorough investigation is required," Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said.
Two of the five judges went further, branding Sharif "dishonest" and saying he should be disqualified, but they were outnumbered. The bench further directed to form JIT within seven days, and present report within 60 days.
The case against Sharif stems from documents leaked from the Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm, which appeared to show that his daughter and two sons owned offshore holding companies and used them to buy properties in London.
At the heart of the matter was the legitimacy of the funds used by the Sharif family to purchase several high-end London properties via offshore companies.
