PPP announces to launch struggle to get Panama Papers bill approved

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party has decided to launch struggle to get Panama Papers bill approved from the Parliament, ARY News reported.

“Our stance is very clear that justified accountability is possible through the bill submitted by the joint opposition on Panama Leaks,” said Leader of Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan while addressing a press conference flanked by Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khursheed Shah and other senior PPP leaders including Sherry Rehman and Qamar Zaman Kaira.

He said all the institutions of accountability including National Accountability Bureau, Federal Board of Revenue, Federal Investigation Agency, State Bank of Pakistan and Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan were under the ruling government’s control.

The PPP leader said the opposition pinned no expectation from them to carry out accountability. The accountability institutions said investigation was not possible on a news item. One said until they would not be provided evidences, they would not go after the Panama Leaks investigation.

“Investigation starts with allegation not evidence. The purpose of investigation is to collect evidences and witnesses,” he said.

Aitzaz said the allegation of offshore companies was leveled by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which is an independent international entity.

“Inquiry should be held according to the course of actions given by the opposition parties, not the ruling party itself,” he said.

Kaira said we do not want politics of agitation. It all depends on the government (how to resolve the issue). If it accepts our demand, the case will directly go to Supreme Court.

He also said government institutions were being sold to cronies under privatization schemes.