Panama leaks probe headed for a long haul: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, while responding to the anti-climax of stand-off between the PTI and the government, said that he has no better words than to say “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un”, adding that when something is lost, this Quranic verse is recited. He said that the Panama leaks issue has been lost somewhere. He said that the Opposition and the government committees played T20, One-day and Test matches for seven months to formulate ToRs with consensus and the Parliament kept the masses in the dark for seven months on the same count. He said that he fully supports ToRs framed by the Opposition but asked how will a government, which did not accept the ToRs of Opposition before, accept them now? He, however, added in the same breath that if the Supreme Court formulated ToRs, then no party will be able to add ‘ifs or buts’ to them.

Dr Qadri said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan will retire during the current month to be replaced by new Chief and benches also are made and broken. He said that the whole record of the Panama leaks has to be handed over by Nawaz Sharif, Ch Nisar, Ishaq Dar and the institutions under their control, adding it is to be seen when the investigation gets completed and what results come out. He said that since the whole record has to be produced by the government side, will it be ready to provide it easily without any hesitation because doing so will mean signing the dotted line. He said that the government is expert at playing games and the same is being done now.

The PAT Chairman said that we are with the ToRs of the Opposition but there is least probability of their being accepted. Will the government accept the decision of starting the accountability with the Prime Minister being the first person in the dock? He reminded that the former Prime Minister of PPP did not write a letter to the Swiss authorities despite the repeated orders of the Supreme Court in the past, asking how come the present government will hand over the record which will ensure their disqualification. He said that if the stakeholders are serious, the imbroglio on the Panama leaks can be resolve in four days. He said that the Prime Minister told himself at the floor of the National Assembly that he sold his mill in Dubai and established one in Jeddah and in the same way, he sold the mill located in Jeddah and bought flats in London.

Dr Qadri said that the riddle will be resolved if the PM is asked to explain as to where the money received from sale of mill from Dubai to London was parked and how did it travel from Dubai to Jeddah and Jeddah to London? And why were these properties not declared according to the law of Pakistan? He said that Imran Khan did not decide to postpone the sit-in scheduled for Nov 2 with his consultation, nor is he in a position to offer any advice. He said that the decisions to call off protest and celebrate the Day of Thanksgiving are those of the PTI itself. He said that the Panama leaks issue will linger on for a long time now. He said that he would give his detailed point of view in a few days. He said that he cannot see the matter getting any clear direction, adding that it can take two years to investigate it as well. He said that he is surprised by the development and does not know what to say on the issue. He said that celebrate the Day of Thanksgiving is the right of PTI.