Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The combined opposition on Monday agreed that the accountability process in the wake of revelations by Panama Papers should start from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family.

The opposition parties held a meeting here at the residence of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Aitzaz Ahsan to discuss its plan of action to deal with the political storm triggered by Panama Papers, especially involvement of the Sharif family in the offshore business.

They rejected the ToRs announced by the government for the judicial commission and demanded that the commission should be formed after necessary legislation in consultation with the opposition.

The opposition succeeded in drafting its own terms of references (ToRs) for the proposed judicial commission over Panama leaks, but remained undecided whether or not to demand prime minister’s resignation prior to the inquiry. The next round of meeting is set to be held at Aitzaz Ahsan’s residence at 11 am today (Tuesday).

It is pertinent to mention here that most of the opposition parties including the PPP, PTI and PML-Q have been publically demanding prime minister’s resignation in their individual capacity but a joint stance in this regard is likely to come out after today’s meeting.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamat-e-Islami (JI), Awami Muslim League and others attended the Monday’s meeting.

Speaking to media after the meeting, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the prime minister had failed to fulfill his responsibilities after the disclosures by Panama Papers. He said that they want accountability of everyone, but believe that the process should start from the prime minister and his family.

“After prime minister, all other Pakistanis named in Panama Papers should be investigated,” stated in a joint statement read by Kaira.

He said that nine parties had participated in the meeting. He said every party presented its own ToRs, which would be finalized in today’s meeting.

In the meeting, Khursheed Shah, Aitzaz Ahsan, Qamar uz Zaman Kaira, Saleem Mandi Wala, Senator Saeed Ghani, Shireen Rehman and Ejaz Jakhrani participated from PPP; Jahangir Tareen, Hamid Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shireen Mazari and Arif Alvi from PTI; Mian Ateeq and Naveed Jamil from MQM; Israr Ullah Zehri from BNP; Siraj ul Haq and Sahibzada Tariq Ullah from JI; Anees and Zaib Tahir from QWP-S, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed of the AML; Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Mushahid Hussain Syed and Arif Bashir Cheema from PML-Q while Ghulam Ahmed Bilor and Mian Iftikhar Hussain participated from the ANP.