Govt, Opposition reach consensus over law to probe Panama Leaks

ISLAMABAD: The government and the opposition on Tuesday reached an understanding to bring a new law to probe corruption, including the Panama Leaks, but a deadlock on the terms of reference (ToRs) persisted.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah in his chamber.

“We have reached an understanding with the leader of the opposition on coming up with a new law to investigate corruption including the disclosures contained in the Panama Papers,” said Ishaq Dar while talking to media persons after meeting with Khursheed Shah.

He said for the past 60 years, a single law had been in operation, which was deemed ineffective by the Supreme Court. He said the government and the opposition had requested Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to play the role of mediator between the government and the opposition. “We are trying to convene a meeting of the parliamentary committee as soon as possible so that talks on a new law to probe the PanamaLeaks could be started,” he added.

The minister said the draft of the new law would be made public following a meeting of the members of the parliamentary committee with the speaker.

Ishaq Dar said that in order to investigate corruption, there was a need to strengthen the law. Dar further said that the government would try to call a meeting in connection with the ToRs as soon as possible.

Khursheed Shah said that during the meeting, discussions were made on the ToRs on which the inquiry will be conducted into the PanamaLeaks. He said there was an understanding on the issue of new law but disagreement on the process how to conduct the investigation. He said that after holding consultations with Aitzaz Ahsan, the schedule for a meeting on ToRs would be finalised.

—Originally published in The News