News @ 3 - 20th Oct 2016

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said he welcomes Supreme Court’s proccedings into the Panama Papers issue.

Chairing a consultative meeting in Islamabad today, the prime minister said he believes in rule of law, complete transparency, and upholding of the Constitution.

He said the issue of Panama Papers has now under the consideration of the election commission, Lahore High Court and the Supreme Court. He said it will be better to wait for Supreme Court’s decision.

Sharif said on opposition’s demand, a letter was also written to the chief justice of the apex court to form a commission of serving judges to probe the matter.

Prime Minister said that the government also formed a parliamentary committee to prepare consensus on Terms of Reference (ToRs), in light of Supreme Court’s directions. It is unfortunate that no consensus was reached, despite sincere efforts from the government side.

Nawaz Sharif said that the government also tabled a bill in the parliament to make the proposed Judicial commission more effective and powerful, but the opposition tabled a paralled bill against the constitutional and legal requirments.