Opposition’s triumph: Bill on Panama Papers sails through Senate

Upper house also condemns Altaf’s Aug 22 speech

ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: The government experienced a major setback on Monday after it failed to stop the opposition’s Panama Papers Inquiries Bill 2016 from being tabled in the Senate.

Terming the bill ‘blatantly discriminatory’, Law Minister Zahid Hamid opposed the bill, alleging that the bill solely targeted the prime minister and his family but bailed out politicians such as Imran Khan, Jehangir Tareen, Aleem Khan and others who also owned offshore companies.

“Now Bahamas leaks have surfaced … There would be no end to it. The federal cabinet has approved the Commission of Inquiries Bill 2016 that deals with such issues by adopting a holistic, practicable and realistic approach.”



Leader of the Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan defended the bill. Upon voting, the opposition secured 32 votes in favour and 19 votes against the bill. Later, the bill was referred to the committee concerned.

Dossier on Balochistan

Pakistan would share with the UN a comprehensive dossier on India’s involvement in terrorism in Balochistan, while demanding an international probe into a recent attack in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

PM’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said this while winding up debate on a motion moved by Dr Jehanzeb  Jamaldini on the current state of relations between Pakistan and India.

“In violation of international laws … he (Modi) opted to speak about Balochistan which is our internal matter. We are preparing a detailed dossier that would be taken up at the UN,” the advisor said.

Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani reminded the house that Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj had also mentioned Balochistan in her speech. PM Nawaz Sharif held meetings with 11 heads of states at the UN and presented dossiers to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon containing related evidence about India’s atrocities in IOK.

The foreign affairs advisor questioned India’s version on Uri attack in IOK.

“We want an international probe into Uri incident to be carried out by neutral quarters, not India. Indian intentions cannot be trusted.”

Earlier, the House unanimously passed a resolution moved by Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq condemning Indian atrocities in IOK and advocating the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions.

Resolution against Altaf

The House unanimously passed a resolution against Altaf Hussian, moved by Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail, for chanting slogans against Pakistan and instigating the party workers to attack media houses on August 22 this year. MQM did not abstain and voted in favour of resolution.

The House was later adjourned till today (Tuesday).

Altaf still chief

The London faction of the MQM on Monday denied that the party’s founding chief Altaf Hussain had stepped down from leadership position, handing all powers to Nadeem Nusrat.

“There is no truth in this. These all are rumors,” senior leader of the faction Wasay Jalil told The Express Tribune.

Bill to combat human trafficking

A bill to prevent human trafficking, especially women and children, was introduced in the Senate on Monday, which was later referred to the standing committee concerned for further deliberations.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2016.