Opposition agrees on terms for judicial commission

Islamabad - The investigation will be made public as it proceeds.

 The combined opposition on Tuesday agreed on 15-point terms of reference (TORs) for judicial commission to probe the sensational revelations made in the Panama Papers.
The key element of the TORs is demand that the investigation must first begin from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family which should end within three months and for the others whose names appear in the leaks in one year. The probe should be held under a special law and conducted openly.
Eminent lawyer and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan while giving details said overwhelming number of opposition parties except two agreed that the prime minister must resign to ensure an independent investigation. Those who have admitted having offshore companies and property abroad have to disclose the source of their income, how it was transferred abroad, was this amount declared in tax documents and paid tax.
"The process of accountability must start to probe into the [Panama] leaks, starting with the prime minister and his family," Aitzaz said.
"For this inquiry, a commission led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan may submit its report in three months," he added.
The investigation will be made public as it proceeds.
Aitzaz said the two smaller parties, the Qaumi Watan Party and the Awami National Party (ANP) which did not agree on demand for resignation of the prime minister, agreed in principle that this was a reasonable point but wanted this on competition of the inquiry.
Aitzaz said the opposition is prepared to hold talks with the government to evolve consensus TORs.
Two big opposition parties, the PPP and PTI, reaffirmed position in demand for resignation while the Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM, also supported it.
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• Pakistan