Panama probe: ‘Doors open for dialogue if Panama commission formed’

JI chief Sirajul Haq says all meetings on ToRs remained unsuccessful

LAHORE: If the government constitutes a commission to probe the Panama leaks and is prepared for accountability, doors are open for dialogue otherwise the government will be responsible for public protests.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq shared these views while addressing the party’s central leadership in Mansoora on Thursday.

Siraj said there had been eight meetings on the terms of reference (ToRs) but all of them had been unsuccessful due to the government’s inflexible stance. “JI is not demanding accountability from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif alone,” he said. “We also want the accountability of Sirajul Haq, former president Asif Ali Zardari and those who were part of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s government as well. This has been done so that wealth that has been plundered [from the public] can be recovered.”

Siraj said the JI has thrown its weight behind democracy from the outset. He said the democratic system cannot flourish unless transparent accountability and corruption is brought to an end.

He said peaceful protests are the lifeblood of a democratic regime and had undoubtedly strengthened the system. According to the JI chief, democracy was under threat from dictatorial attitudes.

“The rulers do not want anyone to question their unlawful and unconstitutional activities,” he said. “We want a system of transparent and impartial accountability.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2016.