Panama leaks: Opposition parties agree upon ToRs, seek PM family probe first

The CJ-led inquiry commission may furnish its report in three months and make details public, says Aitzaz Ahsan

After two days of brainstorming session, the opposition parties finally evolved with consensus on Tuesday the terms of reference (ToRs) to probe into the foreign wealth of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family and others in the backdrop of the Panama Papers leaks.

"The process of accountability must start to probe into the [Panama] leaks, starting with the prime minister and his family," PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan said while talking to the media in Islamabad.

"For this inquiry, a commission led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan may submit its report in three months," he added.



The probe, the PPP Senator said, may reveal the origin, reasons, sources and ambitions and the income taxes filed on the premier's assets.

"PM Nawaz will have to reveal details of the wealth held abroad by himself, his wife and family," he said, adding,"Results will have to be made public as soon as these are gathered."

Aitzaz went on to say that the inquiry of other assets may be completed within a year's time.

A special Panama Papers Inquiry and Trial Act will also be introduced to carry out the probe, he said, adding that the ToRs introduced also include recommendation of a forensic audit.

Talking about the the earlier demand of the prime minister's resignation, the PPP leader said the opposition was not on the same page.

He added that the opposition had already rejected the ToRs introduced by the government to probe the matter of offshore wealth.

Last month, Panama Papers, a trove of documents leaked from the archives of a Panama-based law firm, had named the premier’s three children among over 200 Pakistanis for owning offshore companies.



On Monday, leaders of opposition parties had met to formulate a joint strategy against the government. They demanded the law ministry to amend the working terms in consultation with the opposition.

However, the government appeared to be reluctant to demonstrate flexibility in this regard and rejected the opposition’s demand.

On April 23, the Nawaz government had written a letter to the apex court, requesting it to form a commission to probe into the authenticity of the information contained in the Panama Papers.



The government had already notified the ToRs drafted by the law ministry for the proposed commission. The opposition parties had already rejected the government’s ToRs, accusing the government of not taking them into confidence before finalising the terms.

Although PM Nawaz had offered to resign if any wrongdoing was proven against him, the opposition parties insisted that the premier should leave his post on “moral grounds” until the commission finalised its findings.