ISLAMABAD: The PML-N leaders on Tuesday tried to spin the army chief’s statement in their favor. They said eradicating corruption was one of the top priorities of the PML-N government. “It’s a matter of concern for the army chief too,” said Defense Minister Khawaja Asif. He dismissed the apprehension that his statement had any political connotation. “It only has a national connotation,” he observed. He questioned had the chief justice of Pakistan called for eradicating corruption, would the media have still tried to make an issue out of it. He believed every national institution was working within the ambit of its constitutional mandate. Minister of State for Privatization Muhammad Zubair claimed some elements were trying to drive a wedge between the PM House and the GHQ. He said the civil and military leaderships were on the same page against corruption, terrorism and extremism. After the Panama leaks, the federal government has been under severe pressure to constitute an independent inquiry commission. The opposition parties have been questioning the source of money found in the off-shore accounts of the members of the Sharif family. In the hindsight, the PML-Nawaz seems to have agreed with the PPP that corruption had no linkage with ongoing terrorism and extremism in the country. When former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain was picked up by Sindh Rangers, the PPP had raised a similar question. The PML-N leadership had then stayed aloof. Now Mr Zubair claimed that corruption had no linkage with terrorism or extremism. Meanwhile, the opposition parties are lobbying to develop a grand consensus on Panama leaks against the government. Analysts predict the ruling party may accede to their demands following the statement of General Raheel Sharif.