The senior leadership of opposition parties on Tuesday agreed to a four-point agenda for a joint meeting of opposition to be held on May 2 over the issue of the 'Panama Leaks', it is learnt. Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have agreed on a four-point agenda for a joint meeting of opposition parties regarding Terms of Reference (TORs) for a Judicial Commission to investigate the Panama Leaks. However, opposition parties Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP) are not fully supporting the four-point agenda.
Leader of Opposition of PPP in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah and Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi telephoned Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Siraj-ul-Haq and discussed new Terms of Reference (TORs) of the investigation commission. Siraj assured the two of his support in order to effectively deal with the matter.
According to sources, Syed Khursheed Shah and Shah Mehmood Qureshi also contacted the leadership of ANP, PML-Q and Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and discussed about the agenda of a joint meeting of opposition parties and the issue of a Panama Leaks. The opposition parties have already rejected the ToRs formulated by the government for a Judicial Commission. The sources said the PPP, PTI, JI and PML-Q have agreed on a four-point agenda after mutual consensus on a joint meeting of opposition parties on May 2.
The sources said that under the four-point agenda; (i) the opposition alliance has initially rejected the authorities granted to the investigation commission in accordance with the 1956 Act, (ii) The opposition parties have demanded the formation of a commission under new laws, (iii) the opposition demands approval of the commission from the National Assembly after introducing it in the shape of an Ordinance; the opposition has hinted that it will facilitate the government in this regard, (iv) finally, the opposition has demanded that Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif be accounted first followed by other 250 individuals named in the Panama Papers. The PPP, PTI and PML-Q have increased their interaction with one another in order to step up pressure the government to meet their demands.
When contacted, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar told Business Recorder; "we want to resolve the issue with consensus of political parties and national consultation." "I urge Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to immediately convene an All-Party Conference (APC) to find a way out of this issue," he said. He said his party fully supports the opposition parties on the issue of the 'Panama Leaks'; however, "we are not in favour to start investigation first from the Prime Minister's family. It should be an across-the-board accountability."
When contacted, ANP Central Information Secretary Zahid Khan told Business Recorder that PPP and PTI have formally invited his party to joint meeting of the opposition parties. He said that almost 250 people are involved in offshore companies and the investigation should apply to all. We are not in favour of starting investigation first from the Prime Minister's family, he said. He said that his party leaders Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Mian Ifthikhar Hussain would participate in a joint meeting of the opposition parties.
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