Panamagate probe: Shah threatens agitation if Panama bill blocked

Opposition leader says his party has no trust in government institutions like FIA and NAB

KARACHI: A day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan threatened to block the capital, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has also warned the government that it will take to the streets if the opposition parties’ bill tabled in the Senate to probe into Panama Papers controversy is not passed.

"Panama Papers issue should come to its logical conclusion. If the government opposes the bill then we will go to peoples’ court,” Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah told a press conference on Saturday at Karachi’s Bilawal House.

Shah was flanked by senior PPP leaders, including Senate’s Leader of Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Latif Khosa and Sherry Rehman. He said Panama Papers had made serious allegations against the prime minister which must be investigated.

"We have no trust in government-run institutions like FIA [Federal Investigation Agency] and NAB [National Accountability Bureau] etc., when it comes to probing the matter. These are under direct influence of the PM, so it will be a futile exercise to repose trust on these agencies," Shah added.



Earlier, a meeting chaired by PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reviewed the current situation in the wake of Indian aggression along the Line of Control (LoC) and condemned the Indian prime minister’s intention to violate the Indus Waters Treaty.

"India cannot dare to violate the treaty and its claim about surgical operation inside Pakistan is merely a drama," Rehman said, adding that the operation or military action is not a solution to Kashmir issue, which India is pursuing.

"Our prime minister during his UN General Assembly address should have highlighted the Indian involvement in Balochistan," she added.

Kaira also criticised the PML-N government's privatisation policy and said State Life Corporation is also being privatised and handed over to government's own people at a throwaway price.

"Around 157 acre land of Steel Mill has been given to government of Punjab which is illegal," he said.

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