Panama leaks: Judgement reserved on petition alleging hindrance

LAHORE:  

Justice Shahid Karim of Lahore High Court on Wednesday reserved verdict on maintainability of a petition questioning alleged interference by opposition parties in finalising the terms of reference (TORs) for investigation of offshore companies owned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family.

AK Dogar, counsel for the petitioner, told the judge that the Supreme Court had directed the government to constitute a committee to propose terms of reference to investigate Panama Leaks.

He said the government was seriously engaged in preparing the TORs. He said the opposition was trying to sabotage these efforts.

“The allegations in Panama Papers are very serious. Genuine efforts must be made to address this issue,” he said. He said that the government had been directed to draft the TORs under the Inquiry Commission Act.

He said the opposition should be directed to stop interfering in the process so that the investigation could begin in earnest. He said that the government was mandated to form the commission and finalise its TORs. He said opposition parties should refrain from unnecessary interference.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2016.