Opposition puts condition on MQM's inclusion in TOR committee

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Opposition parties on Friday have put a condition on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for its inclusion in parliamentary committee as their member for Panama leaks probe.

The parties convened a meeting today in the federal capital and discussed MQM’s participation in the committee that is supposed to form joint Terms of References (TORs) for probe of Panama leaks against premier’s family.

The meeting headed by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA), Khurshid Shah decided to call MQM as its part after it announces in the media, to agree with joint opposition’s decisions through the course of the TOR committee.

Participants of today’s meeting included Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Leader of the Opposition in Senate, Aitzaz Ahsan, Sahibzada Tariqullah, Tariq Bashir Cheema and MQM’s Sheikh Salahuddin, Muzzamil Qureshi, Abdul Waseem and Dr Farooq Sattar.

Shah Mehmood, Aitzaz Ahsan clicked

MQM representatives maintained that they have opposition benches in the Parliament and should be made part of parliamentary committee as opposition’s side.

National Assembly approved a 12-member committee yesterday, with six members from the government and the opposition each.

Minister for Law Justice Zahid Hamid moved a resolution for establishment of the committee on Wednesday while responsibility to put together the body was left with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

Government and opposition members entered a tiff yesterday during session of the National Assembly (NA). Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi proposed the government to count Muttahida Qaumi Movement as its member in the talks.

Minister for Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafique opposed the recommendation and stated that a party that has been in opposition for past three years could not be included in the government to form Terms of References.

National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq summoned representatives of both the government and the opposition to his chamber after the session to take a decision in the issue.

However, the opposition parties called a meeting on Friday to deliberate over the issue. Reportedly, MQM’s participation issue is still to be taken a decision in as the sides are yet to reach consensus.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had recommended formation of a committee comprising of parliamentarians for probe into Panama leaks. He addressed the National Assembly on Monday and reiterated that his family never evaded taxes and was not involved in any kind of corruption or wealth-stashing.

Khurshid Shah called off boycott of the Senate and the assembly and accepted the premier’s proposal.