ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has requested the National Assembly to join him in formulating a charter, like the one (Charter of Democracy) he had signed with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, to investigate the Panama Papers revelations.
“We are not afraid of anything and present ourselves for accountability,” he said while addressing a much-awaited but specially-convened session of the National Assembly to debate on the Panama Papers. Prime Minister Nawaz said the matter of the Panama Papers was not going to end the way opposition wants.
“The nation should know the truth. This House is a representative of 200 million Pakistanis. It is an honour for me to be a part of this House. I want to make this clear that I did not have anything to hide before, nor do I have it now,” he said. He said that the parliament should review the shortcomings of the existing system of accountability and devise a comprehensive system that has trust of the entire nation.
He pointed out that he presented himself for accountability and announced formation of a commission headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to probe the issue despite the fact that there was no mention of his name in the Panama Papers. He said that they wanted that the story of those who indulge in corruption, misuse of power, tax evasion, kickbacks, illegal transfer of money abroad and got their loans written off due to political influence should also come before the people of Pakistan.
Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah said that the prime minister failed to respond to seven questions put forward by the opposition parties. “We had put forward seven questions, but PM Nawaz has made them 70,” he said. “We thought the matter will be resolved once the questions are answered,” he said.
Following opposition leader’s address, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was invited to speak to the House, but citing PM’s ‘failure’ to respond to the questions, the opposition parties walked out from the session.
