Qadri says can only pray for Panama Papers

PAT chief says politicians hoodwinked nation on ToRs.

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has said parliament and political leaders have hoodwinked the nation for seven months while trying to frame the terms of reference (ToRs) to investigate the Panama leaks.

“But I support the ToRs that were presented by the opposition. The government will never agree on those ToRs, but we will wait and see what happens,” the PAT chief said.



Qadri said: “We will see when the Supreme Court forms new ToRs based on the ToRs of both the government and the opposition, and the court will listen no ifs or buts.”

He said this month the chief justice of Pakistan is set to retire and a new chief justice will take oath, adding benches are made and broken off and on.



But the irony of the matter is that the whole record of the Panama leaks is with Nawaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Asif and the institutions that work under their command, lamented Qadri.

The PAT chief said it is to be seen if the government accepts the demand that accountability should begin with the prime minister as demanded in the ToRs framed by the opposition.

He said it is hard to comprehend how the government will present proof that goes against it. He said during the previous government, a prime minister was removed because he refused to write a letter.

“But who will present proof against this government,” he questioned. He said if it is desired, the outcome of the Panama leaks can be realised within four days.

He said the prime minister himself said on the floor of the house that the Saudi Mills were bought after selling the Dubai Mills, and flats were bought in London after selling the Saudi Mills.

“What needs to be asked from the prime minister is where the money was kept before it reached London,” he said and added, “Was the money declared in his yearly tax returns?”



He said the issue will be resolved if these questions are answered.

While commenting on Imran Khan’s announcement calling off the planned sit-in, Qadri said: “When we lose something we pray to Allah, so is the case with the Panama leaks which has been lost somewhere, therefore we should all pray to Almighty Allah as I have no better words than prayers on the whole issue.”

“Neither did Imran Khan consult me on staging the sit-in, nor before calling it off, and therefore, I am not in a position to give any advice on these issues.”

“All decisions are Imran Khan’s alone and so is the decision to celebrate a Thanksgiving Day.”

He said he sees no direction of the whole protests and sit-in, and fails to understand what is happening.

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