Panama leaks: Tareen warns of agitation over ToRs

PTI leader says his party doesn’t want to derail the system

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) secretary general Jehangir Khan Tareen said on Sunday the party was not waiting for a green signal from anybody to launch an anti-government movement in the aftermath of the Panama Papers scandal.

Speaking to the media at the PTI Chairman’s Secretariat, he warned of agitation if the government failed to hold the prime minister accountable in line with terms of reference (ToRs) proposed by the opposition.

He said the drive against the government would not be launched on anyone’s direction. The PTI, he said, did not want to derail the system. “The PTI wants to



To a query regarding the possibility of an army intervention, Tareen said the PTI was not in favour of a “third power” coming to power…. “when we bring people out on the streets”. “We want accountability of the incumbent rulers through people’s power,” the PTI leader said.

Tareen reiterated that the party wanted the government to investigate the Panamagate on the basis of ToRs proposed by the opposition.

He said intra-party elections had not been delayed due to differences among party leaders. Rather, he said, the anti-corruption movement was the reason for the delay.

Tareen said the PTI was looking forward to the 2018 elections when the Panama Papers controversy came forth. He said the party had achieved its goal in the 120-day sit in, in 2013 when a judicial commission was formed to probe electoral rigging.

He said the PTI was in action again after the prime minister and some of his family members gave “conflicting” statements regarding their offshore accounts.

He said accountability should start from the prime minister according to the ToRs proposed by the opposition. Otherwise, he said, the party would raise political pressure for accountability. The PTI would resort to protests if accountability was not ensured, Tareen said.

Citing corruption and load shedding as major problems faced by the country, he said these could be overcome through a “change in the system”. He said the PTI was the only party capable of bringing about the change.

Regarding a tiff between Sheikh Rasheed and PTI Azad Jammu and Kashmir president Barrister Sultan Mehmood over the allegations concerning the award of tickets for AJK elections, Tareen said that while Rasheed was an ally, the issue between the two was of a personal nature.



Tareen also chaired a meeting, attended by Ishaq Khakwani, Rai Azizullah, Shafqat Mahmood, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Ejaz Chaudhry.

A source in the PTI said recommendations regarding workers’ conventions across the country, reaching out to district bar associations and deliberations over possible routes for holding protests during the movement were discussed.

Ejaz Chaudhry told The Express Tribune said it was too early to announce a plan for the movement. He said the party wanted to keep other opposition parties on board. He said the strategy would be finalised and announced once PTI chief Imran Khan returned from London.

Earlier, Khan had said the party would announce its organisational setup on July 20 following which details of the agitation movement would be made public.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2016.