Panama Leaks: PM Nawaz Sharif writes letter to CJ for Panama commission

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif earlier today said that “he would write a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to constitute a Commission to probe into the allegations of Panama Papers.”

“I have decided to write a letter to the honourable Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to constitute a Commission to probe this matter (allegations of Panama Papers),” the Prime Minister said in his address to the nation on radio and television.

He said he would wholeheartedly accept the recommendations of the Commission. If the allegations, leveled against him proved wrong, then those accusing him, would have to face the nation and seek its forgiveness, he added.

The Prime Minister referred to his earlier address to the nation and said he had announced setting up of a Commission at a time when there was no such public demand.

He regretted that his political opponents were pressurizing the judges not to be a part of the Inquiry Commission.

Nawaz Sharif said he was not afraid of anyone, but Allah Almighty. “I have full faith in Him and the people of Pakistan, who will respond to these baseless allegations.”

Rejecting what, he said, was a “fascist attitude” to destroy and bring instability to the country, the Prime Minister said the day allegations against him were proved, he would not hesitate for a moment to go home.

He said the current crisis, made up by his opponents, was nothing but an eyewash aimed at getting power, by creating instability in the country.

The Prime Minister said immediately after the Panama Papers issue came to the fore, he took the nation into confidence, despite the fact that there was no allegation against his person.

He said he announced setting up of a Commission to probe the matter and clear once for all the allegations levelled against him by his political opponents.

“These are all 22-year old allegations,” the Prime Minister said and added that all these cases have been probed several times. He said former President Pervez Musharraf thoroughly investigated, but failed to find misappropriation of even a penny.

“I once again present myself and my family for accountability,” the Prime Minister said and added that details of his assets as declared through his income tax returns, were available.

“We have been paying taxes since the time, people even did not know what tax was,” he said and added it was his government that for the first time published the tax directory.

He dismissed the allegations that he paid a little tax as nothing but “blatant lies” and said the people of Pakistan were well aware of the facts.

The Prime Minister said, the people of Pakistan have in the past rejected such allegations and expressed solidarity with him by reposing confidence in him and voting for him in the general election.

He said that once again attempts were being made to destabilize Pakistan for the greed of power.  He said that he asked Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to ensure that assets of parliamentarians were available on ECP’s website.

He said that his government would complete its five-year term at every cost. (APP)