ISLAMABAD, August 30: Stating the stance of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Panama Leaks probe is similar, PPP leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan demanded that the Panama Leaks probe must begin from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family. Aitzaz said PPP has no intention to move Supreme Court over Panama issue but practically and principally supports the PTI petition. He said 630 names have been appeared in Panama paper leaks and accountability should be started from the family of prime minister. PPP and PTI reiterated that they would not let die down the Panama papers leaks issue till independent investigation into offshore companies’ scandal.
PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi called on the PPP leaders Syed Khurshid Shah and Aitzaz Ahsan at the chamber of the Opposition Leader in National Assembly. They discussed the opposition strategy regarding Panama papers issue, violence in held Kashmir and political situation in the country.
Talking to media after the meeting Aitzaz Ahsan said the purpose of opposition parties is to inform the people of country about the Panama issue. He said opposition parties have prepared bill regarding panama issue and will be presented in National Assembly in one or two days, adding that the government should consider this bill a its own bill and it should be passed from National Assembly and Senate unanimously. He said we have prepared impartial bill for investigation of panama issue.
Aitzaz said he and Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah will consult party leadership over the invitation extended by Shah Mehmood Qureshi regarding participation in PTI’s September 3rd Lahore rally, adding that there is hope of positive response from PPP on the invitation.
Aitzaz Ahsan on this occasion demanded that the Panama Leaks probe must begin from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family. He said the prime minister had presented himself for accountability when names of his family members surfaced in the wake of the Panamagate Scandal.
Since premier’s children names appeared with links to offshore companies in the scandal, they must be given a chance to present their views, he added.
Ahsan said the people and political parties of Pakistan including PPP and PTI wanted a free and fair investigation into the Panamagate Scandal.
On the occasion Syed Khurshid Shah said that they will bring resolution in parliament over the statement of MQM Quaid against Pakistan and other decisions will also be made over this issue. He said Wasim Akhtar is Mayor of Karachi and will remain Mayor of Karachi.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Panama specific resolutions will be tabled in Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa Assembly, Sindh Assembly and Senate because in all these three houses opposition enjoys majority.
Qureshi said that he delivered Imran Khan’s message to the PPP leaders and invited the PPP to PTI’s September 3 Pakistan March in Lahore. He said that the PPP, PTI and other opposition parties have the same view about TORs and investigation into the Panama papers leaks.
He said that PPP would take final decision about participation in the Lahore rally after consultation with the top leadership of the party.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said PTI believed that the ToRs (terms of references) Committee failed to produce results due to the federal government’s negligence and stubbornness.
With reference to PTI’s petition at the Supreme Court against Prime Minister Sharif, seeking his disqualification as the leader of the government and placing Sharif family members’ names on the Exit Control List, Qureshi said he and his party hopped the reference would be entertained as per the law.-Sabah
