Govt, opposition likely to meet one more time over Panamagate inquiry

Meeting expected to take place next week, says Speaker Ayaz Sadiq

ISLAMABAD: The government and opposition parties are likely to meet next week to narrow down differences on terms of reference (TORs) for a Panamagate inquiry, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq disclosed on Monday.

Speaking to journalists after attending an event organised by Unicef to commemorate International Day Against Child Labour, Sadiq said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar wrote him a letter, expressing a will to hold another meeting of the parliamentary committee on the contentious ToRs.



Sadiq said he had approached Khursheed Shah and Aitzaz Ahsan, the opposition leaders in the National Assembly and the Senate, respectively, who agreed that a meeting of the committee should be held next week. The meeting date has yet not been confirmed.

Asked if a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rally expected to be staged on August 7 would disrupt the meeting, Sadiq said the rally had nothing to do with the National Assembly. “We have to ensure all political parties attend the meeting,” he added.

Child protection

Earlier at the Unicef event, Speaker Sadiq stressed the need for protecting the rights of children, saying several initiatives have been launched with the help of UN.

The protection of children, he said, was the collective responsibility of the state as well as its citizens.

The event was organised to award cash grants to winners of a competition for projects designed for the elimination of child labour. Cash grants were awarded to the best three projects selected by a panel of judges.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2016.