Democratic principles: PPP vows not to back down on demands

Senator Sherry Rehman pointed out that many world leaders resigned after their names appeared in the Panama Papers

ISLAMABAD: The PPP will not back down on its four demands because all of them are based on democratic principles, its vice-president Senator Sherry Rehman said on Tuesday.

Senator Sherry Rehman pointed out that many world leaders had opted to resign after their names appeared in the Panama Papers. She did not elaborate further.

She said that the ruling Sharif family was continuing to cling to power, despite the Supreme Court’s observations that their statements contained many contradictions.

“The FIA, FBR and NAB have (all) been rendered dysfunctional. Our four demands are not personal or political but based on principles of democracy. We want to strengthen institutions,” she said.

PPP’s demands included adoption of the opposition’s bill on launching an investigation into the Panama leaks, appointment of a full-time foreign minister, formation of a parliamentary committee for input on foreign policy and national security issues and implementing decisions of the APC on CPEC.

The senator said that the prime minister had promised to form a national security committee during the APC. Besides, he had pledged to ensure equitable distribution of all CPEC-related projects among the provinces, she said. “None of the promises have been fulfilled though,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2016.