Summary Khurshid Shah and Qureshi held meeting with NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in Islamabad.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – The joint opposition has agreed over Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s proposal regarding setting up of a joint parliamentary committee to prepare consensus and comprehensive terms of reference (TORs) to probe allegations leveled in the Panama Papers.
The decision was taken after Opposition leader Khurshid Shah and PTI Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s meeting with National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Islamabad today (Tuesday).
Both were called by the speaker for a meeting when a meeting of the joint opposition headed by Khurshid Shah was underway at Parliament House.
According to sources, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq discussed matter pertaining to formation of a parliamentary committee and sought names of members from the opposition in this regard.
Sadiq also urged them to return to the House.
Later, Khurshid Shah briefed the joint opposition regarding the development. All the members agreed to end their boycott of NA and Senate proceedings.
Earlier today, opposition members prepared a new 12-page questionnaire consisting 70 questions for the Prime Minister on the issue of Panama leaks a day after declaring his speech in the National Assembly ‘unsatisfactory’.
Dunya News obtains copy of new questionnaire prepared by the opposition
During his much-awaited speech in the National Assembly on Monday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif proposed setting up of a joint parliamentary committee TORs to probe allegations of Panama Papers.
Giving a policy statement on the issue, Nawaz Sharif asked the Speaker to form a committee in consultation with leader of the Opposition and other parliamentary leaders.
The Prime Minister who presented his tax record before the House and gave details about family assets abroad and sources of their financing, said more evidence can be presented to the Committee.
He categorically stated that no money from Pakistan was transferred abroad for London Flats and Jeddah Steel Mill. He said he has with him all documents relating to transactions of Dubai and Jeddah factories. He said London flats were purchased from the proceeds of Jeddah factory.
The Prime Minister asked the Parliament to consider a comprehensive and effective system of accountability as per spirit of Charter of Democracy.
He said the story of those who indulged in corruption, misuse of power, tax evasion, kickbacks, illegal transfer of money abroad and got their loans written off should also come before the people of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said they want investigation of the issue without any delay as the country must not be kept hostage again by any crisis.
After speech of the Prime Minister, the Speaker gave floor to Leader of the Opposition Syed Khurshid Shah but he did not avail the opportunity, saying the opposition has not got answers to its questions.
Instead of responding to the seven questions posed by the combined opposition, “the PM’s speech has raised 70 more queries”, Shah told the House.
Similarly, PTI leader Imran Khan too did not speak despite given a chance by the Speaker.
The opposition then staged a walk out from the Assembly.
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