Ignoring opposition, govt tables inquiry act in Panamagate scandal

Opposition parties reject ruling party’s move to save PM Nawaz, family

ISLAMABAD: The tug of war between the government and opposition over the mode of inquiry of Panama Papers continued on Friday even after the introduction of a bill to replace the decades-old inquiries act on the insistence of the opposition parties.

Law Minster Zahid Hamid introduced the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act 2016 in the National Assembly, following approval from the federal cabinet on September 1. If passed, the law will replace the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act of 1956.



The move comes a day after the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) submitted a bill titled ‘Panama Papers Inquiries Act 2016’ in the upper house of parliament keeping in view its numerical superiority.

A bill is to be passed by both houses of parliament for approval, but this is not likely to happen in the given circumstances and the option of legislation would also be exhausted.

The opposition’s proposal only focuses on an inquiry commission to exclusively probe the Panama scandal with provisions that inquiry must be initiated from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family.

The government’s bill is generic and provides for granting ‘enhanced powers’ to the commission to probe matters like offshore companies, loan write-offs, kickbacks, commissions and similar matters.

Both the sides do not seem to be budging from their stance.

“This is a bill to save Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and we will oppose it tooth and nail,” said PPP’s Naveed Qamar whereas PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi termed the bill an attempt to “cover up” and bury the Panamagate scandal.

Both the PPP and PTI rejected the bill the moment it was tabled and referred to the relevant standing committee for further deliberations.

On the other hand, the law minister referred to the top court’s comment about inquiry commissions as well as opposition’s demands and said the government came up with a bill with enhanced powers for the commission.

He said the opposition has limited its proposed bill to the Panama leaks alone and excluded all others, apparently referring to those few, including PTI chief Imran Khan, who owned offshore companies but were not named were in Panama Papers.

Hamid claimed the opposition’s ToRs and the proposed bill were PM specific. “The opposition says there should not be any inquiry unless it is against the prime minister but this is unacceptable,” he added.

The minister discussed the features of the bill to nullify the opposition’s criticism that it was a move to buy time and cover up Panama leaks.

The bill has 19 clauses. The commission, it proposes, shall have additional powers of a criminal court; powers to constitute special teams; shall consult international teams and seek international cooperation from foreign countries or agencies to get information, documents, evidence and record or issue letters of interrogations in accordance with applicable international instruments; and other powers as deemed necessary for conducting the inquiry.



The bill also binds all executive federal and provincial authorities to act in aid of the commission.

Speaking to the media later, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar hinted at exercising the government’s majority in a joint parliamentary session to force through with the controversial bill.

The government enjoys majority in the National Assembly and its suggested bill can sail through the lower house without any difficulty. In the Senate, however, the opposition enjoys a majority and getting an endorsement for the opposition’s proposed bill will not be a daunting task.

Both the opposition and government have announced opposing each other’s bills in their respective strongholds.

“It seems the matter will be resolved through holding a joint session of parliament,” Dar said while talking to reporters.

The opposition’s bill, he said, only targets the prime minister and his family members under the pretext of accountability. The government will not only ensure a probe of Panama Papers but also offshore companies not named in Panama leaks apart from loan write-offs, commissions and kickbacks.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan earlier refused to form an inquiry commission under The Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1956, saying the “commission formed under the Inquiry Act of 1956 will be toothless and not serve the purpose”.

Criticising the opposition and its protest plans over Panama Papers, Dar said the government did not want immunity for anyone but the opposition seemed to have already made up its mind to target the premier solely.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2016.