NEW YORK: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that progress has been made towards setting up a commission to undertake the task as the government wants a transparent investigation into Panama leaks.
Speaking to US-based Pakistani journalists at the residence of Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi, the minister expressed the hope that an announcement about the formation of the commission might be made in next 48 hours.
Nisar, who was closely questioned about Panama leaks, acknowledged the delay in establishing the commission, saying the atmosphere had become so charged by some inflammatory statements that two of the retired judges of the Supreme Court declined the offer to head the investigative body. Moreover, he said, demands from parties and individuals had varied from a judicial commission to an inquiry by parliament. “But now the work has picked up pace and there would be a positive outcome,” he said.
The minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was the first to react to the revelations by Panama Papers and he himself proposed a judicial commission in his broadcast to the nation on April 10.
Nisar said that whatever committee or a commission is formed to probe the scandal, opposition will be taken on board. “Reaction to Panama leaks surfaced in Pakistan first of all. Whatever committee or commission is constituted with reference to Panama leaks, opinion of the opposition will be included,” he said.
The entire county wants transparent investigations into Panama leaks issue, he said, but the allegations that have been levelled against the children of Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, only they can give reply to those accusations.
Nisar said that the government was fully focused on security issues in the country. Army was not only safeguarding the borders but also extending help in internal affairs of the country under the constitution.
