Panamagate scandal: JI, PPP join hands for ‘collective struggle’

Parties will craft joint strategy next month

ISLAMABAD: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has decided to join hands with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to kick-start a collective struggle from next month to force the government into initiating an impartial probe into Panamagate scandal.

“I have formally invited the PPP leader Khursheed Shah to form a joint strategy against the government and in this regard we will sit together in the first week of October and then form a future strategy,” JI chief Sirajul Haq told The Express Tribune after a meeting with Shah.

During the moot, the leaders discussed current political situation in the country and different options to collectively press the government to probe the  Panamagate scandal.



Haq said his party will hold a big gathering in Faisalabad on September 30.  “This rally will be part of JI’s anti-corruption campaign, launched in March this year. However, the JI will not be a part of the PTI’s Raiwind march,” he added.

Speaking to reporters, Shah said the basic objective of the meeting was to discuss political situation. He said the PPP will not go to the Supreme Court over the Panama issue as the party believes the issue should be resolved in parliament, which, he said, is the supreme institution.

However, he said, his party will consider other options if the issue is not resolved in parliament. Responding to a question over PTI’s Raiwind march, Shah said the PML-N should be careful as protest is the right of every party. He also advised PTI to remain peaceful.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2016.