Panamagate: Nawaz, aides pore over defence strategy

Although SC has yet to issue any notices, govt is aiming for a headstart

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday discussed with his close aides legal options the federal government can exercise in its defence at judicial and constitutional forums against allegations levelled in light of Panama leaks.

Notes were exchanged between the prime minister and his legal aides, including Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf, Law Minister Zahid Hamid and former AGP Salman Aslam Butt in deliberations that were kept low-key apparently in a bid to avoid media attention.



Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office told The Express Tribune that the top government officials with a legal background briefed Sharif about the government’s preparations regarding the Panama leaks case the Supreme Court will take up today (Thursday).

Although the top court has so far not issued notices to the government, officials have started preparations beforehand to defend the government. The court is taking up five petitions, including that of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, seeking the prime minister’s disqualification for allegedly owing offshore companies in Panama. Imran is expected to appear in the court today.

The court will first decide maintainability of the petitions. In case the apex court accepts the petition, notices will be issued to respondents; the premier and the federal government.

Sources said the government was taking measures to tackle any situation arising out of the Supreme Court proceedings.  “It’s a pre-emptive measure,” a senior government functionary told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity. “Even though it’s still not clear what the court intends to decide about the petitions on the Panama leaks, and we have not been issued notices yet, our preparations are on – to face any kind of situation, accordingly.”

Despite repeated attempts, Prime Minister’s Spokesman Musadik Malik was not available to comment on the issue. Other officials concerned were also reluctant to comment officially.

Sources said the PML-N legal wing has obtained records of all the five petitions, which are being studied by experts to defend the prime minister and his government. A strategy is also being chalked out to defend references and cases involving Panama leaks in the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Lahore High Court.



Options regarding Commission of Inquiry Bill 2016 were also discussed in the meeting, sources said. On August 31, the cabinet approved the bill in a bid to frame a law to probe the Panamagate. The PTI and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are strongly opposed to the bill, saying it is more or less similar to the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1956 that is regarded as an overly generalised and ineffective law that cannot specifically probe the Panama leaks issue. The PPP has moved the Panama Papers Inquiries Bill 2016 in the Senate against the government’s bill. The government’s bill has been passed by the concerned National Assembly panel and will be moved into the lower house for its nod. If approved, the bill would be moved in the Senate for passage.

On May 13, the Supreme Court turned down a related request from the government and refused to form a ‘toothless’ inquiry commission on the Panama leaks under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1956.

On September 10, the prime minister held an important meeting with his close aide and Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq to discuss government’s strategy to have the Commission of Inquiry Bill 2016 sailed through the Parliament.

Haq said the government’s strategy was to take political parties in loop as far as the said bill was concerned.  “The PML-N is the largest political party having majority in parliament. Yet, we want to develop a consensus on the bill. In case, this does not work, the other option is always there,” he told The Express Tribune.

To a query regarding PPP’s bill, the senator said every political party has the right to push for legislation it deems suitable. “Whether their bill manages to get parliament’s nod depends on their efforts. We are committed to our bill.”

On government’s preparations to defend cases linked to Panama leaks in the SC, LHC and ECP, the PML-N leader said he was not privy to the development and that the matter was being dealt with as per law.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2016.