Panama commission: Govt names members on ToRs committee
Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafiq are among six nominees
Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafiq are among six nominees. PHOTO: ICIJ
ISLAMABAD:
The government has nominated its team of negotiators to draft the terms of reference (ToR) for the Panama commission in consultation with the opposition.
The six-member team announced on Monday includes Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Ports and Shipping Minister Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Housing Minister Akram Khan Durrani and Information Technology Minister Anusha Rehman.
Two allied parties’ members have been accommodated in the panel – Durrani from the JUI-F and Bizenjo from Balochistan’s National Party (NP), who is the only member from the upper house.
On Monday, the finance minister sent the prime minister’s nominations to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq through a letter in pursuance of the motion adopted by the NA on May 19 and the Senate on May 20. According to the NA Secretariat, the speaker was in Lahore on Monday.
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Meanwhile, the opposition’s side of the panel will be represented by ANP’s Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi, PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, PML-Q’s Tariq Bashir Cheema, MQM’s Barrister Saif and JI’s Sahibzada Tariqullah.
In his address to the NA last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced a joint parliamentary panel, with equal representation from government and opposition parties, would thrash out the ToRs through consensus for a thorough investigation of the Panamagate scandal.
Both government and opposition have hinted the committee members would be finalised without any delays and the probe would be completed within the given time.
Though Dar’s letter to the NA speaker mentions a motion passed by the Senate for formation of the committee, the resolution was controversial as Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani refused to preside over the proceedings for not being consulted over the move.
Rabbani later also declined to forward the nominees to the NA speaker, it has been learnt. When contacted, the Senate chairman only said: “No comments.”
His decision has now pushed leaders of the opposition in upper and lower houses – who are both from the PPP – to do the job and complete the nominations process.
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Once this is complete and the committee is notified, the possibility of government and opposition locking horns over the scope of investigations cannot be ruled out.
The opposition has insisted the focus of investigation should be on those named in the Panama Papers whereas the government wants to enhance the scope of the probe to overall corruption.
On Sunday, Speaker Sadiq had made it clear the ToRs would not be restricted to Panama leaks only and instead would encompass bank loans default and corruption cases as well.
This is also reflected in the finance minister’s letter to the speaker as it is subjected: “Nominations for parliamentary committee on offshore companies, loans write offs and commissions/kickbacks.”
Moreover, meeting the deadline to complete the task would also be a challenge for the committee. The opposition, which has drafted its own ToRs, is ready to give the committee not more than 15 days.
But given the different approaches on both sides of the isle, the panel may need more time.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2016.
The government has nominated its team of negotiators to draft the terms of reference (ToR) for the Panama commission in consultation with the opposition.
The six-member team announced on Monday includes Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Ports and Shipping Minister Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Housing Minister Akram Khan Durrani and Information Technology Minister Anusha Rehman.
Two allied parties’ members have been accommodated in the panel – Durrani from the JUI-F and Bizenjo from Balochistan’s National Party (NP), who is the only member from the upper house.
On Monday, the finance minister sent the prime minister’s nominations to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq through a letter in pursuance of the motion adopted by the NA on May 19 and the Senate on May 20. According to the NA Secretariat, the speaker was in Lahore on Monday.
Panama leaks fallout: PTI set to move plea for PM Nawaz’s disqualification
Meanwhile, the opposition’s side of the panel will be represented by ANP’s Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi, PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, PML-Q’s Tariq Bashir Cheema, MQM’s Barrister Saif and JI’s Sahibzada Tariqullah.
In his address to the NA last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced a joint parliamentary panel, with equal representation from government and opposition parties, would thrash out the ToRs through consensus for a thorough investigation of the Panamagate scandal.
Both government and opposition have hinted the committee members would be finalised without any delays and the probe would be completed within the given time.
Though Dar’s letter to the NA speaker mentions a motion passed by the Senate for formation of the committee, the resolution was controversial as Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani refused to preside over the proceedings for not being consulted over the move.
Rabbani later also declined to forward the nominees to the NA speaker, it has been learnt. When contacted, the Senate chairman only said: “No comments.”
His decision has now pushed leaders of the opposition in upper and lower houses – who are both from the PPP – to do the job and complete the nominations process.
Imran Khan vows to resolve Kashmir issue
Once this is complete and the committee is notified, the possibility of government and opposition locking horns over the scope of investigations cannot be ruled out.
The opposition has insisted the focus of investigation should be on those named in the Panama Papers whereas the government wants to enhance the scope of the probe to overall corruption.
On Sunday, Speaker Sadiq had made it clear the ToRs would not be restricted to Panama leaks only and instead would encompass bank loans default and corruption cases as well.
This is also reflected in the finance minister’s letter to the speaker as it is subjected: “Nominations for parliamentary committee on offshore companies, loans write offs and commissions/kickbacks.”
Moreover, meeting the deadline to complete the task would also be a challenge for the committee. The opposition, which has drafted its own ToRs, is ready to give the committee not more than 15 days.
But given the different approaches on both sides of the isle, the panel may need more time.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2016.