Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The opposition parties have decided to formulate a combined strategy to give ruling PML-N tough time over Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family keeping huge offshore wealth as revealed by the Panama Papers.

A joint meeting of the opposition parties has been convened on May 02 to devise a strategy in this regard.

Senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday met Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly and PPP senior leader Khursheed Shah. During the meeting, both the parties rejected terms of references (ToRs) unveiled by the government for investigation into Panama leaks by a judicial commission.

Talking to reporters, Khursheed Shah has said ToRs as announced by the government cannot be accepted, adding if the accountability process is kicked off from the time of country’s independence, it will take a century to complete. He said that government’s letter to the chief justice for constitution of an inquiry commission is pointless as all the opposition parties have rejected it. He said the opposition will carve out a comprehensive strategy on the issue by May 2.

PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that if the government intends to introduce an effective commission to deal with the matter, it will have to take the opposition into account as well. He said that PPP and PTI were making collective efforts to deal with the issue. He said the parties who have rejected the ToRs will make a joint strategy, adding that the people of Sindh are equally troubled with the Panama leaks and that the Sindhi people have always actively participated in every democratic movement.

Separately, a PPP delegation led by Aitzaz Ahsan met MQM’s Farooq Sattar to discuss the political crisis triggered by Panama Papers.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Farooq Sattar called for across-the-board accountability and national consultation to eradicate corruption from the country. “MQM has always raised its voice against the corruption but accountability must be without any discrimination,” he said.

“The issue of probe into Panama leaks is stuck over terms of reference. All political parties should be consulted as this is a matter of national importance,” he said.

The MQM leader said he will hold consultation with members of MQM’s coordination committee about party’s position on Panama papers. He said that he has also informed the PPP about the challenges his party was facing in Karachi. “Nearly 60 MQM workers have been killed extra judicially and 170 are still missing,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan said that accountability must begin from prime minister’s family. He deplored a media ban by Lahore High Court on broadcast of Altaf Hussain’s speeches.

Aitzaz Ahsan also met central leader of PML-Q Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to discuss investigation into Panama leaks. Both the leaders later told a joint press conference that PPP and PML-Q had unanimity of views on the issue of accountability of the Sharif family. The agreed that ToRs of the proposed commission must be finalized in consultation with the opposition parties.

Elahi said that PML-Q fully agrees with the stance of the PPP, adding that proper legislation should be made regarding the inquiry commission and its ToRs. “Investigations should be initiated from the family members of the prime minister,” he added.

Leader of Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan said that opposition had totally rejected the ToRs unveiled by the government. He said that it was the kindness of the PM that he had exempted Allama Iqbal and Liaqat Ali Khan from investigation. He said that offshore companies and bank accounts of PM’s family should be identified.