PML-N unlikely to back inquiry commission

Believe such a move may have a number of repercussions for the ruling family

ISLAMABAD: Feeling the heat of the Supreme Court’s proceedings in Panamagate case, the ruling party on Wednesday held marathon meetings to review options against the formation of an inquiry commission to probe the mega scandal.

In these crucial and classified huddles, held at the PM House under the chair of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the PM’s counsel in Panamagate case Salman Aslam Butt, Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf, the PM children’s counsel Akram Sheikh, Anusha Rehman and Raza Zafarul Haq took part.



According to sources, the lawyers for the PM and his family members argued against the commission’s formation and in support of maintaining status quo in the case. The ruling party is not likely to reach a consensus with the PTI on the commission’s formation fearing “too many repercussions,” reliable sources in the ruling PML-N shared with The Express Tribune.

“The formation of commission means all the respondents would have to appear before the inquiry panel. And any such appearance implies grilling, cross-examination and all that. This would be nothing less than a nightmare for us,” a senior PML-N leader said, while requesting not to be named.

The ruling party, he said, would push for the exclusion of the PM’s name in case the court decided to set up a commission even if consensus between both the sides was not reached.

“Imagine if the PM had to appear before the commission and to face tough questions, harsh arguments and serious allegations. It would be a very grim scenario – something we would never want to happen,” he added.

Interestingly, in November, when the apex court started hearing the case, the ruling party was claiming that it did not have any objection in case an inquiry commission was formed.

“We never expected the things to unfold the way they have. The court’s toughened stance, strong remarks and severe reprimands to both the parties show that stakes are too high,” a source said. “Law sees everything in black and white and in case the inquiry panel presses to dig deeper into the money trail in the Panamagate case, things would get very challenging for us.



“The apex court has so far not strongly pressed to track the money trail and this is somehow favouring us. We would want the regular proceedings to continue. Based on available evidence, we are confident that there isn’t much against us,” he added.

Another PML-N leader, who enjoys close association with the PM and Sharif family, said the party leadership’s concerns regarding the commission’s formation also have much to do with the ‘Qatari Prince factor’.

“Whether or not the Qatari prince would appear before the commission is a matter of speculation. However, an order to summon the Qatari prince before the inquiry panel would not only land us in uncomfortable position but it would also not go down well with the royals,” he said.

Senior PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq said the PM and his family members’ stance in Panamagate case was known to all, adding that they had requested in the court that the PM’s name should be excluded from the case because he was not named in Panama leaks.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2016.