SUKKUR: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and chief of the Justice Demo­­cra­tic Party Iftikhar Muha­m­mad Chaudhry has said the CJP has powers to form or not to form commission on Panama Papers and said it is better for one to step down and clear ones’ name if he is smeared with allegations. He said at a gathering in Ghotki late on Sunday that the CJP had returned from abroad but he was unaware of when the commission would be formed.

Earlier, at a press conference in Daharki Mr Chau­dhry said that if CJP desired to make changes in the ToRs sent by the prime minister he would require solid ground to do so.

Mr Chaudhry said that in 1999 the government had submitted solid proofs about Sharif family’s corruption to the Supreme Court in Zafar Ali Shah case.

So far, he said, nothing had been produced by the family to reject the proofs in the court.

He said that Supreme Court should make this case part of the ToRs and explore the extent of Sharif family’s corruption.

About the Panama Papers, he said the prime minister must immediately tender resignation to ensure that investigation into the allegations was held in a fair and transparent manner.

He recalled that in 1998 when the country went nuclear, the Nawaz government had put a freeze on all foreign currency accounts and bank lockers but the Sharif family had no respect for the decision, the family had all the banks opened in the night and removed their foreign currency and costly items from lockers.

He said the huge amount of donations the Nawaz government had received in 1997 for its Qarz utaro, mulk sanwaro initiative remained unaudited till this day. The Sharif family should also be asked to make its position clear with regard to these matters, he said.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2016