The coalition partners of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are advising the government to approach the opposition political parties for building a consensus on the new ToRs [terms of references] of the proposed judicial commission to investigate the Panama Leaks against the Prime Minister's family, it was learnt.
The sources said the government after taking input from the coalition partners may once again approach the opposition parties to discuss the new ToRs of the commission after Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rejected the ToRs contained in the letter sent by the government to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
When contacted Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, president of the National Party, one of the allied parties, said the judicial commission is basically being formed on the demand of the opposition and it needs consensus on the ToRs to avoid political chaos in the country.
"We're going to request the Prime Minister that the government should approach the opposition to create consensus on the ToRs, which should be acceptable to both the opposition and the government," he said, adding now that Imran Khan has declined to accept the commission under such ToRs, there is a need to build a consensus on new ones.
To discuss the situation, Pakthunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PaKMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai also met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House on Saturday.
During the meeting, Achakzai also insisted on creating a consensus with the opposition political parties on the judicial commission, besides assuring his party's support to the continuation of the democratic process, according to sources. Another key coalition partner, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), according to sources, is supportive of an amicable resolution to the issue. Echoing the view of the Prime Minister, senior JUI-F leader Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman told Business Recorder that the opposition was demanding formation of a judicial commission and his party wants those who have evidence to present themselves before the commission.
However, he said, his party would be in a position to give its stance after the return of JUI-F chief Mualana Fazlur Rehman from abroad. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is currently on a visit to South Africa and is expected to reach by April 26, he added. The Law Ministry on Friday notified the ToRs of the proposed Commission to examine information relating to involvement of Pakistani citizens, persons of Pakistan origin and legal entities in offshore companies in Panama or in any other country.
The opposition political parties particularly, PPP and PTI, however, rejected the ToRs under which the Commission was also supposed to hold inquiries into the involvement of former and present holders of public office in writing off their own bank loans or those of their immediate family members through political influence; and, transfer from Pakistan of funds which have originated from corruption, commissions or kickbacks.
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