LAHORE: Both the PML-Q and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) have assailed the ruling PML-N for undue delay in probing the Panama Leaks and have called for earlier legislation on the matter.

The two opposition parties demonstrated their stance in a media talk after a meeting between their leaders here on Monday.

“We (the opposition parties) have framed terms of reference (ToR) for the investigation without delay but the government has not yet finalised its nominations for the parliamentary committee set up by the National Assembly speaker to formulate joint ToR,” lamented PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi while responding to a query.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had told the media on Sunday that the government would submit its nominations on Monday.

“The opposition parties will chalk out their future line of action keeping in view the government’s thinking and attitude,” said Mr Elahi.

A decision to move the Supreme Court against the prime minister would be taken after the legal consultation among the opposition parties, he said when asked to comment on PPP’s plans for going to the apex court to get Nawaz Sharif disqualified on Panama Leaks issue.

JI emir Sirajul Haq counseled the ruling PML-N to amend the 1956 act at the earliest for a meaningful probe into Panama Papers instead of creating confusions.

“The proposed commission must have full and final authority to act against those proved guilty of the charges in the investigation,” he demanded, warning that unrest among the masses and instability in the country were on the rise and any inordinate delay could prove to be the last straw on the back of camel for the government.

Referring to the train march his party would initiate from May 25, Mr Haq hoped that other political parties would also support the campaign against corruption to eliminate the menace for good.

Earlier, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat said the PML-N was not showing seriousness in resolving the Panama Leaks issue.

He said that the Bangladeshi government’s act of penalising the pro-Pakistan elements was condemnable.

He said Motiur Rahman (BD JI emir) was hanged only because he had fought for Pakistan and lamented that Islamabad never openly presented its stance on the issue; otherwise, the hanging in Bangladesh could have been averted.

The PML-Q leaders condoled with the JI leadership the hanging of JI leaders in Bangladesh.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2016