ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) have expressed disappointment over the recent speech of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over Panama Papers.
The address of the prime minister delivered on April 22 was un-statesman like in which he apparently complicated the high-profile case that actually required a simple explanation from him, it said. This was observed in a meeting chaired by PESA President Ali Kuli Khan. Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim, Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, Lt Gen Naeem Akbar, Brig Mian Mahmud, Brig Masudul Hassan and Brig Simon Sharaf were also present.
The Panama Paper did not contain any direct reference to the name of PM Nawaz but the issue exploded only after one of his sons accepted ownership of the assets disclosed by the Panama Papers, they said.
Basically, it was the prime minister’s responsibility to give details about the source of those assets and the method that was adopted to transfer those funds to the tax haven of off shore companies, they said. Furthermore, the former military leaders said, being a matter of personal nature, there was no need to involve state agencies and the Cabinet.
We have the example of the British prime minister who handled the case all by himself and gave out all details about the funds. The prime minister of Iceland could not satisfy the public hence resigned without any hesitation.
Under pressure from the opposition parties, the government has asked the chief justice of Pakistan CJP) to set up an inquiry commission, however, its Terms of Reference (ToR) have been so framed that its proceedings could be prolonged for an indefinite period, they noted.
Members of the PESA agree with the need to investigate into all the causes that have prevented “us to achieve Pakistan of our dreams but the most urgent issue revolves around integrity of our head of the government.”
All members of PESA, therefore, request the CJP to use his powers of Suo Moto action and split the TOR into two parts and set up two separate commissions to bridge the gap between the government and opposition over the issue.
First commission directly led by him should cover Panama leaks to give PM Nawaz an opportunity to come clean in shortest possible time. Otherwise, this issue might not affect his vote bank but would certainly leave an indelible black spot on Pakistan’s prestige. The second commission may go in to all the other matters, starting from the day our top judiciary introduced ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ in 1954.
