ISLAMABAD: The stage is set for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s long-awaited address in the National Assembly on Monday (today). But revelations that his arch-rival, PTI chief Imran Khan, had also set up an offshore company have eased some of the pressure that was mounting on the prime minister in the aftermath of the Panama Papers leaks.

A key adviser to the prime minister, who was involved in the preparation of his landmark speech, told Dawn: “The prime minister will come up with lots of substance, which should be sufficient for his own constituency and the more fair-minded critics, since the opposition always manages to find some fault.” Pressed for more details, the adviser simply said: “I can only say that things will get messier. This may take some by surprise.”

The adviser said that the PM was now in a better position to defend the case of his three children, given that several key opposition members, including PTI’s Imran Khan, Jahangir Tareen, Aleem Khan, PPP senators Rehman Malik and Osman Saifullah as well as Moonis Elahi, the son of former deputy PM Pervaiz Elahi, would have to answer regarding their direct or indirect links to offshore companies in tax havens.

Apart from responding to the opposition’s queries about his family’s business concerns, the prime minister is likely to urge political leaders across the board to come up with a collective strategy to root out the evil of money laundering once and for all, another ruling party source said.

Disclosure about Imran Khan’s own offshore company has eased pressure on ruling party

“I personally think a joint parliamentary committee, which will formulate the terms of reference (ToR) for a Panamangate-specific probe is the best course of action, and some in the party have also suggested the same. But let’s see how the PM handles the opposition’s queries,” the source said.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is said to have played a key role in the preparation of notes for the prime minister, whereas Information Minis­ter Pervaiz Rashid has been tasked with phrasing the response, a couple of senior government officials privy to the development told Dawn.

They said that after the Supreme Court had asked the government to review its ToR for the proposed judicial commission, there was a good chance that the PM would opt for consultation with the opposition.

However, one of the officials said, “With Chaudhry Nisar, who is known for his aggression rather than a reconciliatory approach, taking a lead in the preparation of the PM’s response, the government may take a strong stance.”

That stance, the official said, “can be in the form of proposing a multi-pronged investigation, instead of just focusing on the PM and his children”.

The opposition, meanwhile, will be meeting again ahead of the assembly session on Monday afternoon to thrash out a strategy before going into the session. “[Opposition parties] will meet and discuss our response in case the PM avoids answering the seven questions that have been conveyed to the government through the National Assembly speaker,” PTI chief whip Dr Shireen Mazari told Dawn.

She said the opposition would hear out the prime minister, adding that they had already asked the speaker to ensure that the PM also hears out what key parliamentary leaders from the opposition have to say.

The prime minister won’t be the only habitual truant attending Monday’s session.

PTI spokesperson Naeemul Haq confirmed that Imran Khan was due to return to Pakistan on Monday morning and would also be attending the National Assembly sitting.

In background discussions, PTI lawmakers claimed that though Mr Khan’s case was altogether different from the Sharifs’ as everything he had was on the record, the timing of this revelation had adversely impacted the party’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, at least for now.

“Whatever the reason, PTI itself must furnish information about Mr Khan’s offshore company. In politics, one cannot afford to leave loose ends untied,” a serving PTI lawmaker said.

Senate Opposition Leader Aitzaz Ahsan – who has been leading the PPP’s onslaught against the government – had repeatedly said that if the prime minister fails to address the specific queries raised by the combined opposition, “they will not keep quiet.”

Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has also said that he expected the PM to make a serious offer for talks to forge a way forward. PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also of view that in the wake of the CJP’s response, a couple of parliamentary committees; one to deliberate on the ToRs and one to mull legislation for the proposed commission, can be the best response.

MQM’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the PM must step down until investigations into the Panamagate scandal are wrapped up.

Speaking during a TV talkshow on Sunday night, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that he had asked PTV to ensure that the prime minister’s speech, as well as the leader of the opposition’s remarks, are broadcast live by the state broadcaster.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2016