ISLAMABAD, May 09 (APP):National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq Wednesday asked the political parties to give their recommendations for constituting a special committee through a motion to investigate the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) allegations against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
For the time being, the Speaker deferred the proposed motion so that all parties may submit their views about it.
He asked the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to inform him about the proposal of the political parties in this regard after consultation with them.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in his speech called for constitution of a special committee to probe $4.9 billion money laundering allegations leveled by NAB against the former prime minister.
Responding to the prime minister, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Parliamentary Leader Syed Naveed Qamar said he would consult his party and respond tomorrow.
He said it was a big allegation and involved unbelievable big amount. He, however, added, “I think we will be creating a new precedent that we interfere in the working of an institution, which has been created by us.”
Though it was the prerogative of the government to form a committee, however, “we will do further consultation with the party and the opposition, and then decide whether we will participate in it or not,” he added.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Asad Umar said it was the same parliament which the PTI had demanded to investigate the allegations surfaced from the Panama Papers, but it was asked to approach courts. Even the then prime minister himself went to the Supreme Court, he added.
He said in that background the demand for constituting a committee was surprising for him and categorically rejected the proposal.
Shaikh Salauhddin of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said he would take his party on board on the issue.
Ayesha Syed of Jamaat-i-Islami said,” Earlier, we were asked to consult institutions for such allegations.” The institutions, she added, should not be targeted for political interests.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmed admitted that such issues should have been brought to the parliament instead of taking the same to the Supreme Court.
“We should decide issues of our house inside the house,” he said, adding,” We sit together and let the parliament play its role on the issue that has surfaced now.”.
He clarified that formation of the committee was not to challenge any authority, it was rather aimed at knowing the facts behind the grave allegation and educated the nation about it. “Our purpose is neither to challenge any institution nor to snatch its authority,” he added.
Minister for SAFRON Lt Gen (R ) Qadir Baloch said it was need of the hour to ascertain what was right and what was wrong.
“This is a serious allegation which needed to be looked into,” he said, adding,” We were representatives of 20 million Pakistanis, who must know what is right and what is wrong.”
He said laundering of $5 billion by the country’s prime minister was a serious allegation, which needed investigation and rejecting the proposal for investigation would affect the general election.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party said it was a grave allegation, so the formation of the
committee was necessary while Naeema Kishwar of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (Fazal), said the parliament being the supreme institution, should solve the issue.