Pakistan

Imran Khan demands commission headed by CJP to probe Panama Papers revelations

In address to the National Assembly, PTI chairman threatens to take to the streets if demand not met

News Desk April 07, 2016

A file photo of Imran Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman has threatened to organise street protests if a judicial commission headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to probe Panama Papers revelations is not formed.

“We should make a commission under Chief Justice of Pakistan, and involve forensic investigators who can look into white-collar corruption," Imran said in his address to the National Assembly on Thursday.

"If the government does not constitute an empowered commission, we will have no other option but to take to streets."

A massive leak of 11.5 million tax documents on April 3 exposed the secret offshore dealings of world leaders and celebrities, also naming three of the premier’s children for owning London real estate through offshore companies.

In response to the leaks, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced forming a high-level judicial commission, under a retired judge, to investigate the allegations of owning off-shore companies and concealing assets.

Panama Papers: PM orders judicial probe into charges against family

The PTI chairman said this was a defining moment for Pakistan.

“At this crucial juncture, we do not have money to run state affairs. However, if we right the problem of tax evasion and get the assets of the affluent class declared, we can solve a number of issues faced by our country."

Imran also censured the PM for his 'efforts' to undermine the credibility of Shaukat Khanum hospital.

Panama Papers prove Imran wrong: Rashid

“Our welfare hospital benefits common people where they can get treatment at minimal cost. But the ruling party wants to destroy the hospital,” he said, adding the PML-N wanted to silence critics by their false propaganda against SKMH.

Rejecting allegations hurled against him by the PML-N leaders, Imran said his hospital receives international donations.

Opposition leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah also rejected the judicial commission, demanding an audit of the accusations by an international firm.

“We, the opposition of the government, reject the judicial commission and demand an international firm carryout the audit; only then can the whole nation accept its report,” Shah said while speaking during the session.

COMMENTS (14)

PapaTango | 8 years ago | Reply RealTruth: all endowments the world over lost money since 2008 after the world financial meltdown. Your calling investing in a stock market gambling belies a lack of knowledge. If that were true then you should ask for the disbanding of the Pakistan Stock Exchange. And the money was from foreign contributions and run, managed, and audited by a world class professionals and all the record is available for everyone. For you to link SK hospital public funding and public management to multi million dollar tax avoidance schemes to benefit a private business is deplorable. To quote Mr. Asif: koi sharam...... I hope and pray that neither you nor your family for the rest of time ever need the services of SK hospital.

PapaTango | 8 years ago | Reply Mr. Asif wants to know what was the rate of return on the $3 million that the endowment of a public charity SK hospital made and what would have been the rate of return had that money been invested in Pakistan. He considers that illegal.Well Mr. Asif: what is the rate of return the Sharif coterie has earned on their offshore businesses and what would it have been had they invested in Pakistan and more importantly how much would the national exchequer have been paid taxes had those investments been made in Pakistan? Koi sharam hoti hai koi hayaa hoti hai, jo hay. Regardless of who has done what, this government and its ministers have no moral authority whatsoever in asking people to invest in Pakistan nor ask them to pay their taxes: the two cornerstones of any nations economy no longer has any government credibility.

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Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply @a&a: PMs need to lead by example. In Pakistan's case either they cannot lead or they lead by hypocrisy.

a&a | 8 years ago | Reply The body language of PM in a TV address to the nation shows he is not clean.

Adeel | 8 years ago | Reply In his speech he offered himself and SKMH for accountablity first before the PM he also said if he was in gov he would not level any accusations but put ppl in jail. Which means if he or SKMH has done anything wrong gov should catch the wrongdoers instead of blamming. These are powerful statments which rises above personalities and empower rule of law. The article fail to mention any of this....

Pea Brain | 8 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: Rex, love, I think one should fairly evaluate the PTI stance that was repeatedly on-air all day. The order of demands is very important; one, this should be a judicial commission led by the CJP. Two, it should be mandated to assemble a forensic audit team of international repute to investigate the money trail. Three, they will wait for the TOR's on the proposed inquiry commission and demand that the above changes. Four, the government should take the opposition in to confidence with regards to the commission. Five, if these steps are not taken then we reserve the right to plead our case through public protest. All the demands were made inside the parliament and the inclusion of opposition on such matters is only democratic. The rhetorical insinuation of street protest at the exhaustion of parliamentary means was the concluding point. To dub this as anarchy is slightly lopsided. You may disagree with PTI and its policies but to reduce any dissenting opinion as anarchy is pretty anarchic in itself. Chill!

Real Truth | 8 years ago | Reply Mr. IK, first, please, go and wipe that egg off your face -- courtesy your candidate-picking skills in Karachi. Secondly, how about approaching the SC with two simultaneous requests: I) to form a commission to investigate Panama Papers (as it relates to Sharif family), and ii) form a commission to investigate SKH's pranks -- investment of Donations in the stock markets (thru shell companies) OUTSIDE PAKISTAN, and multi-million $ losses incurred thru those (gambling) activities -- all with Donations made by common people.

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply He thinks that honourable CJ is a fool like him. Imran trusts no one.

zubair | 8 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: If NS is clean then all NS need to do is form commission under CJP and international white collar crimes experts and forensic audit trails then there will not be any 'nasty street demonstrations'. Very simple answer. And if he is not clean then yes there will be 'nasty street demonstrations'. End of story.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman has threatened to organise street protests if a judicial commission headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to probe Panama Papers revelations is not formed.chist street demonstrator You sir do not represent democracy but favour instead support anarchy through nasty street demonstrations! All those who themselves or through their families are found to be associated with the offshore accounts must quit the politics They have no right to represent or speak for the people of the land and let the appropriate world authorities establish with the help of National Governments wheather such transactons were illegal money laundering or simply tax evasions. There is too much at stake for the capitalist system, especially for those countries which operate a social order by providing national health and education for their people. Rex Minor

salman | 8 years ago | Reply Reasonable demands by opposition. Nawaz should agree immediately. After all if he is innocent as he claims, he had nothing to be worried about. Unless......

Brainy Bhaijan | 8 years ago | Reply We demand a judicial commission be setup to probe the brain of Imran Khan, so that the truth behind his stupidity can be evaluated.

Mohammed | 8 years ago | Reply Well done IK, the nations stands with you. If the Sharifs have nothing to hide, they will accept your demands.

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply Then there is the small matter of Imran Khan being the only politician who's at pains to explain to the nation why this constitutes tax evasion and why they should be worried.

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