PPP mulls departure from parliamentary committee, advises opposition to follow suit

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Senator Aitzaz Ahsan on Thursday said his party, in an intra-party meeting, has decided to leave the parliamentary committee formed to probe Panama leaks and advised all the opposition parties to do the same.

Speaking to media after a meeting of senior party leaders in Zardari House Islamabad, Aitzaz said the opposition provided prime minister an opportunity to clear his name, but the government members kept insisting on removal of his name from the terms of reference (ToR).

When asked if forming the parliamentary committee was a mistake, he said that it cannot be termed as such as it showed the true face of rulers.

"Nawaz Sharif proudly said in the parliament, his Bannu and Haripur rallies that he has presented himself and his family for accountability, but now he has been exposed," said Aitzaz.

Aitzaz stated he wants to bring all opposition parties on "one container",

PPP spokesperson senator Farhatullah Babar told DawnNews that the party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto, warned the ruling PML-N that its bid to protect an individual from accountability will have serious repercussions.

Lawyer Latif Khosa told media that he, on his party's behalf, will file ineligibility petition in ECP against five members of Sharif family as the declarations they filed in the commission were not based on truth.

Giving out names he said the petitions will be filed against Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif , Hamza Shehbaz, Captain Safdar and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

On May 18, the federal government and the opposition agreed to form a 12 member committee in order to draft joint terms of reference (ToR) for an inquiry commission to probe Panama papers.

The committee was made to consider options for inquiring into issues raised by the Panama Papers including offshore companies, transfer from Pakistan of funds originating from corruption, commission or kickbacks, and written-off bank loans.

It was to submit a report to Parliament within two weeks.

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F Khan

Jun 23, 2016 09:47pm

PPP shouting corruption against the sharif family. Hypocrisy at its height.

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Razi

Jun 23, 2016 09:58pm

Excellent!

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Harmony-1©

Jun 23, 2016 10:00pm

Accountability needs to start somewhere...the one at the helm should be first as he offered himself.

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F Khan

Jun 23, 2016 10:44pm

@Harmony-1: Accountability has to be against everyone simultaneously including sharif family.Keeping off-shore accounts is no crime.Evading tax or ill gotten money in those account is a crime.Even IK has off-shore account. He has publicly accepted. Mr. 10% has swiss accounts and more ill gotten money than anyone in this land of the pure. Even a common man in the street knows it.So why specific laws and rules for Sharif family? Lets has same rules of game for all. PPP shouting corruption against the sharifs is hilarious.PTI is just using the corruption propaganda to beat up the drum against the government. They are not serious on the issue or they would have agreed to the judicial commission offered by NS in his first speech.

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Khalid Latif

Jun 23, 2016 11:21pm

If a person is confirmed to have caused financial loss to the country, by plundering and looting its wealth, he would be, undoubtly arrested instantly. Why have these theives not been arrested. Instead, a snail's paced, process has been undertaken which is to start with a TOR, which has yet to be agreed upon by both sides. Also, the opposition is well aware that such committees have proved a total failure because of manupilations and gross corruption. The opposition should take a firm stand for this issues rapid progress and spell out the actions that should be taken against the accused persons, as done normally; arrest, interrogation and use of force to get the laundered money back to Pakistan. Otherwise, the accused persons should remain locked up. They and their families should not be allowed to enjoy the stolen money. TOR, inquiry, court trial are all a joke and eye wash.

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Naseem Ahmad

Jun 23, 2016 11:49pm

@F Khan Having an off-shore account is not a crime, as long as you can show that the funding of it is from untainted sources. I khan has/had an off-shore account and he has prsented himself for scrutiny, people who have concerns should ask for explanation, not assume that he has committed some crime.

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Iqbal Khan

Jun 23, 2016 11:50pm

IK you are great to bring awareness in masses and in political parties. It's better PPP may face a reciprocl movement of PMLn to account their corruption in the best interests of the people.

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Anarchist

Jun 24, 2016 12:24am

@F Khan 'They are not serious on the issue or they would have agreed to the judicial commission offered by NS in his first speech'. You mean the commission that has been rejected by CJ as 'toothless'?

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M.Jamal

Jun 24, 2016 12:53am

An honest immediate brutal clean up will lead us to development,otherwise, we will be fighting corruption cases in courts till infinity.

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Where are we?

Jun 24, 2016 01:25am

The only way is agitation to make Nawaz Sharif to present himself for accountability. Our PM is a compulsive liar.

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Kamal Paseha.

Jun 24, 2016 01:39am

Now what. Atizaz Ahsan let go Nawaz Sharif. PM and his family must be very happy.

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Pakistani

Jun 24, 2016 01:38am

Joke and fraud, application to ECP, which doesn't have any member . Muk muka.

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Mo Ash

Jun 24, 2016 01:43am

@F Khan Please name me one judicial commission in recent times that resulted in any positive outcome. IK is willing to be investigated - so why not Mr Sharif and Co???

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Kamal Paseha.

Jun 24, 2016 01:43am

Keep on issuing statements, shout in the parliament, comment in the newspapes but nothing is going to happen to anyone. They have always looted the country but nobody has gone to jai or money recovered. This is all drama being played by PML(N) and PPP.

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Khan

Jun 24, 2016 02:42am

PPP clearing its path towards next election. I think AZ has his name also in the leaks.....just a band of bandits....

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Mohammed

Jun 24, 2016 02:49am

IK is the only honest guy, the rest are crooks.

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Noor

Jun 24, 2016 04:26am

@F Khan .... if Imran khan is corrupt then its Govt job to scrutinize him ... not to blackmail him ... moreover yes everyone shall be accountable but it should start from PM as he is head of state and since shareef is PM now it should start from him

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Nizamani

Jun 24, 2016 05:14am

we just can pray they become accountable here in this world as well.

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Mohammad Khan USA

Jun 24, 2016 06:30am

The Prime Minister of Pakistan has announced RS 10 million to the family of the world famous qawal who is also known as the face of Pakistan,he was the one who represented Pakistan and was praised internationally for his spiritual voice of Pakistan,announcing 10 RS 10 million as help to his family is not the solution,the solution lies in making the law and order corruptionless,which he cannot do unless he clears his and his family's name from the Panama scandel

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