LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the prime minister has announced a commission for investigation into Panama Leaks and clearly said that if his name is included, he will apologize and go home.

He was talking to a delegation of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society here on Wednesday.

He said that loan waivers on political grounds was a great crime and that the State Bank had lists of those who got their loans waived. He said that commission would not have to make investigations for years in this case) but it could give its decision in minutes.

He said that those criticising terms of reference of the proposed commission for their “personal” interests were displaying extreme hypocrisy as investigation into loan waivers had also been made part of the ToRs.

The chief minister directed setting up of a committee led by provincial government spokesman Zaeem Qadri for resolving the problems of newspaper industry. Former PTV chairman Muhammad Maalik, the information secretary and DGPR will also be included in the committee.

Mr Sharif also criticised the Pervaiz Elahi government during 2006-07, saying it had committed a great dacoity regarding mineral reserves of Chiniot.

He said that the sit-in politics of last year ruined the national economy and now these elements once again were out to stop the process of progress and prosperity to delay completion of development projects, especially the power plants.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2016