ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Monday urged the government to accept the terms of reference (ToR) put forward by the opposition for the proposed Panama Papers inquiry commission.

Saying that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had no intention of launching a street protest against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the Panama Papers controversy, Mr Shah said the “government is compelling us to [act in this way]”.

Talking to reporters after meeting Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid at his chambers in Parliament House, he said there was a deadlock between the government and the opposition over the proposed commission.

He feared that the situation could persist because of the government’s stubbornness and urged them to accept the ToR prepared by the opposition. “The government should move forward to resolve the matter,” he said.

Bilawal tweets photo of Shah-Rashid meeting with provocative caption

This was Mr Shah’s first interaction with the media after his return from Dubai two days ago, where he reportedly met PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, ostensibly to discuss Panamagate.

Source close to the opposition leader said the government was curious about the meeting between the two, adding that this could be one of the reasons behind the information minister’s meeting with Mr Shah on Monday.

During his press talk, the opposition leader also referred to some cases instituted by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz against PPP’s top leadership, including the late Benazir Bhutto and former president Zardari.

Criticising the performance of the current government, Mr Shah said it had failed to provide relief to citizens who had to endure an unprecedented price hike, loadshedding and a host of other issues.

“The menace of loadshedding has reduced the people to tears,” he added.

Footage of the meeting between the opposition leader and the information minister showed the latter meeting Mr Shah quite humbly and motioning to touch his feet, as a gesture of respect.

However, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, in a tweet, captioned a photo of that moment with the statement: “Jb Ye Mushkil main hotay hai tu Paon Pakartay hai or jb Mushkil sy nikaltay hain tu Gala pakrtay hain”, or, “They reach for our feet when they are in trouble, but try to wring our necks when they are out of trouble.”

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2016