Pakistan's army chief asks prime minister to resolve Panama Papers crisis

Islamabad - The meeting took place after six weeks, an unusual departure from frequent meetings between two in the past.

In a significant development, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif held a one-on-one meeting on Tuesday during which Gen. Raheel reportedly asked the premier to resolve the Panama Papers issue at the earliest.
The meeting took place after six weeks, an unusual departure from frequent meetings between two in the past, that was paved by two or more meetings by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif with the General amid wide speculation here of emerging civil-military tensions.
There was no word wither from the army or the PM House about what transpired in the meeting but private TV channels quoting reliable sources said Gen. Raheel weighed in on the government-opposition row over the Panama Papers probe by asking Nawaz Sharif to get over the crisis as soon as possible.
The speculations were fed by earlier reports of civil-military strains.
Gen Raheel, according to a well-placed government source, conveyed the pointed message to the prime minister in a one-on-one meeting before another huddle on national security at PM House that lasted nearly three hours.
The army chief's view was that the protracted controversy over Panama Papers investigation was affecting governance and national security and, therefore, the issue needed to be urgently brought to a close.
"Gen. Raheel believes that the issue is causing instability and insecurity," daily Dawn quoted the source as saying.
The crisis erupted after Panama Papers revealed offshore financial assets of Nawaz Sharif's children. Although the leaked documents had disclosed offshore companies of several other leading politicians, the opposition has been demanding that the probe should start with the prime minister's family. Like among common people, the controversy had also made waves in the rank and file of the military exerting pressure on the army chief to play his role.
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