Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has said that the decision of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) of writing back to the government is not anything unexpected “as the terms of references (ToRs) were complicated, unacceptable and vague”.

Qadri while addressing the party leaders from Canada via video link on Friday said investigation into international financial corruption cannot be conducted under the 1956 Commission of Inquiry Act.

He said the prime minister wants to escape accountability and hide behind the letter. “For that he had asked some of his cronies to shut hue and cry so as to misguide and create confusion and prove himself innocent in the eyes of the people of the country.”

The PAT chairman said that the prime minister is playing dilly-dally and hoodwinking all the questions that are being asked him to answer.

Qadri said whatever the commission is formed to probe the Pamana leaks, it shoud have powers to employ international financial forensic experts and powers to call and question whoever is required

“The commission must have powers to prosecute and punish those found involved in financial corruption,” he said, adding the commission should be appointed through an act of parliament or ordinance.

He said that even after the passing of one month all the state institutions like National Accountability Bureau, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and others have kept a “criminal silence” over the Panama leaks and nobody has even tried to start investigations.

He said these state institutions should send a separate questionnaire to the prime minister and the Sharif family whose name has been cropped up in the Panama Papers.