Pakistan

Not answerable to opposition on Panama Papers, says PM Nawaz

Will talk about the controversy before judicial commission only, premier tells media on his way back from Tajikistan

News Desk May 12, 2016

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressing the Upper House of Parliament on December 31, 2014. PHOTO: PID

While opposition parties prepared a list of questions for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to answer in Parliament on Friday, the premier has made it clear that he is not answerable to them on Panama Papers.

According to Express News, the premier talked to media on-board the plane on his way back from Tajikistan on Thursday.

Leaked documents from the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama last month showed premier’s sons, Hassan and Hussain, and his daughter, Maryam, owned at least three offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands.

PM Nawaz to address parliament after opposition boycott over Panama leaks

PM Nawaz said he had already written to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for an inquiry into the leaks; hence, he will not respond the issue in Parliament.

He said the opposition was not interested in an investigation, and only wanted to play politics on the issue.

The premier said he will talk about the controversy before the judicial commission only.

Opposition preps seven blunt questions for PM Nawaz over Panama leaks

According to Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, the PM will appear before the Parliament to answer questions on the Panama Papers leak that linked his family to offshore wealth.

When asked some people belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf were also named in Panama leaks, the PM said media should question them as well.

COMMENTS (32)

H Chaudhry | 8 years ago | Reply @Ishrat PM is responsible to respond to Parliament but He is not responsible not required to give in to demands of Sick minded people who are fewer in numbers like asking for resignation. He did answer the questions, if opposition does not like his answers they too bad but thats where it ends. He has majority and so long he has that he is not required to give in to stupid asks of opposition.

Ishrat salim | 8 years ago | Reply @H Chaudhry: Leader of majority party does not mean he is not answerable to the members of the opposition in the Parliament. That is what is democracy. He is answerable to the Parliament where all members as people's representative sit to legislate, make laws to run the country. By your definition if these opposition members does not deserve to be in parliament than why not close it. It will save money but then do not call the system democratic, it us monarchy or what difference with dictatorship ?

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Sharaf Khan | 8 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: The judiciary which failed to bring a case against the murderers of people in Lahore. The government even did not allow them to publish their own finding. Supreme court is stuffed with people of Kashmiri origion who seem to always back his cronies. When they did not during his second stint in Parliament his hoodlums attacked the high court. The way the judiciary handles cases they are a joke. Simple case go on for years after year and often for decades. They take bribe and issue stay order without due consideration. Lets be realistic about the whole setup. Institutes are not functioning and the government is not making any effort to strengthen them.

Sharaf Khan | 8 years ago | Reply @H Chaudhry: Do you understand the fundamental meaning of a democratically elected leader and parliament? If you did you would not be making such belligerent statements.

Sharaf Khan | 8 years ago | Reply @Danwal: Nawaz is bringing in investment ! My friend he is pushing the country down into the abyss of bankruptcy for his own kick backs and commissions. As per Shahbaz Sharif press conference how did they manage to pay off 5 arab rupees in 2013 soon after election.? That is a big money by any account. Did the pay tax on it before paying their debits? It is a sin to defend a corrupt ruler.

Sharaf Khan | 8 years ago | Reply @Danwal: Yes fixed the economy very well by plundering the Exchequer! What a wonderful fixer.

salman | 8 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: Judiciary had not said one word or done anything yet. Of course the opposition are going to take advantage, after all, so did nawaz with go zardari go movement and sending gillani home. But the point is that opposition did not write the Panama papers, and they are serious allegations, which any innocent pperson would have addressed by now. The fact nawaz cannot only raises doubts on himself...

Realism | 8 years ago | Reply Realism demands that we do not, for now, set very high moral standards for our rulers, as most of us are honest, quite often, when we do not have any opportunity for dishonesty. The Government is performing well these days, as economic indicators suggest. Therefore, let this dispensation work until election times and then the people shall do accountability. There is no guarantee that any change is government is going to bring in honest politicians and competent at the same time. For one, this govt. is managing the economy pretty good. Any change can only bring in another set of dishonest people and plus on top of it they may not be able to handle the economy as well. So let the govt. function and do not destabilize it so the state can continue to make progress.

Midas | 8 years ago | Reply He should be careful with his arrogance, Allah does not like it, I wish he was a student of history and he would have remembered the fate of Sadam and Qadafi in not very distant past.

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply @Ali S: So you believe opposition more than judiciary. Isn't this the same opposition majority of us disgracefully rejected in elections?

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply His majesty the king deigns to answer the common people and the elected representatives, what more could we wish for from our hotshot PM and I must say,this definitely seems to ameliorate the current catastrophe.With your favorite channel continuing the tradition trying to cover your back doing your dirty work slandering Imran Khan.Boy, Zulfi Bukhari's name in offshore companies list must be a blessing in disguise for PML(N).Now Pervaiz Rashid wont have to redo his wudu.Way to go Nawaz Sharif !!!

freed | 8 years ago | Reply games of crooks, coming soon to 3rd world country near you.

Ja aye Chaudhry | 8 years ago | Reply Nawaz finally is acting like he should. He has learnt that timidity did him harm in such previous stints. Stay course.

H Chaudhry | 8 years ago | Reply @Panamleak Almost 2/3 majority is with PMLN in Parliament, what do you mean disrespect of Parliament. He will get vote of confidence when ever he wants. He has the MAJORITY

H Chaudhry | 8 years ago | Reply @Khan So Security is Improving becauseo f Raheel Sharif / Army, where was this Army in last 10 years. Electricity load shedding is now half of what it used to be, so you get your facts.

H Chaudhry | 8 years ago | Reply And to $hut up every one. PM please take Vote of Confidence.

H Chaudhry | 8 years ago | Reply An elected PM MUST NEVER bow down to those who Lost elections or those who were not Elected. Well said PM. There are Courts and if some one has issue go to courts but this Joke of "Resignation" from losers of election is not acceptable.

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply So, Parliament is only there when he needs it to save himself....... ridiculous.

salman | 8 years ago | Reply @Danwal: If you dig out the facts, foreign investment is actually falling. Sorry to bust your bubble.

Gaz | 8 years ago | Reply @Danwal: what have you been smoking? When did he fix the economy it's growing at 4% when our neighbors growing at 8% and Musharraf era was at 8%. On top of that oil prices are at record low but we still borrowing from IMF. Please have some ambition for your country.

Khan | 8 years ago | Reply @Danwal Electricity has improved? Are you kidding me? Security is improving because of Raheel Shareef and the 16th Dec massacre which opened the eyes of PML N. Get your facts right and don't just be a blind nooner!

Danwal | 8 years ago | Reply @king Nawaz is bringing in investments, electricity has improved alot, security was a issue in previous government which has had a significant improvement so I think he will be remembered for fixing these issues and Panama papers won't matter since everyone in politics is corrupt either financially or morally but given chance to select between Nawaz and zardari in future, my vote would be always Nawaz.

Naeem Khan | 8 years ago | Reply I thought in parliamentary system the prime minister is answerable to the sitting parliament, amazing how corrupt politicians could even dare to say what he is saying. If he is really innocent of any wrong doings as he says then he should not worry. He should not use delaying tactics and let some independent commission with some judicial powers should be allowed to investigate without any strings attached and if found innocent then let the country know about it. But we and he knows how innocent he and his family is. I say come clean Mr.Prime Minister.

Panamaleak | 8 years ago | Reply This is a direct insult of the Parliament and constitution. Nawaz Sharif has now left himself open to removal and impeachment. His arrogance must be turned into humility enen if he has to be sent to jail not Jeddah.

King | 8 years ago | Reply @Danwal: The subject is Panama papers..be relevant.. How will he be remembered then?

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply Of course how can he be answerable without his crib sheet, which Shahbaz is feverishly preparing ?!

Patwari | 8 years ago | Reply Yes, he is only answerable to Nehari and Keema

no suprise | 8 years ago | Reply Why is this news? Everyone knew nawaz was not going to answer any questions, despite what Pervaiz Rashid said.

turbo | 8 years ago | Reply well you are answerable to the people's representatives definitely!!

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply Yes you Highness, you are not answerable to anyone in Pakistan,

Danwal | 8 years ago | Reply In future, we will remember him as a great leader who overcame energy crises and fixed the economy.

Ali S | 8 years ago | Reply Of course, his Majesty is only answerable to a hand-picked judicial commission of his own yes-men. Nawaz is digging his own political grave.

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