ISLAMABAD: Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Khurshid Ahmed Shah said on Wednesday, while addressing a packed lower house, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had no need to address the assembly if his name was not mentioned in Panama Papers.
"By addressing the assembly, the premier raised many more questions, and did not answer the seven questions we had put forth," said Shah.
"More questions were raised as we got different statements from him every time. Who or what should we believe?"
Shah reminded the house that the opposition has intentionally not indulged in calling anyone a thief or going back to politics of the '90s, as such remarks only weaken the democratic government and benefit other 'interests'. He did not specify which 'interests' he was referring to.
"We were told that money was taken abroad in 1972, when Ittefaq Foundry was being privatised, and was invested in a new venture named Gulf Steel," said Shah.
He questioned the source of the money transferred abroad, as the premier had earlier stated that they had lost everything when privatisation took hold during Zulfiqar Bhutto's government.
"If you had nothing at that time, and your name was not in the list of Pakistan's 22 richest families, then should we not question how you obtained and transferred the funds," asked the leader of the opposition.
Shah stated that Gulf Steel's mention was made for the first time during the prime minister's address earlies this week.
'Only Rs1 billion in tax for 23 years'
Bringing the discussion back to the documents presented by the premier earlier this week, Shah questioned the tax paid by 12 companies, owned by the Sharif family.
"In 23 years, 12 companies owned by you paid only Rs1 billion in tax?"
The information comes from the documents which you presented, and submitted to this house, added Shah.
Moving onto Nawaz's income tax records, the leader of the opposition again questioned the premier regarding taxes paid.
"In 14 years, you only paid income tax amounting to Rs0.6 million," Shah said, emphasising on 14 years.
It does not even amount to Rs40,000 per annum, explained Shah, adding that the premier himself presented these figures, raising more questions over the prime minister's tax history.
In 1994 you paid Rs2,000 in tax, in 1995 you paid no taxes and 1997 you paid Rs50,000 in tax, said Shah.
"Officially an MNA pays around Rs50,000 in tax."
'Issue needs to be resolved'
Khursheed Shah emphasised that the matter needs to be resolved, in order to protect democratic institutions in the country.
"It is in everyone’s interest to strengthen the Parliament through accountability for everyone," stated Shah.
He reminded Nawaz that it is his obligation to safeguard every penny of the people's money.
"You are seen to be failing in your obligation."
"The Supreme Court has seconded what we have said. We said, lets sit down, make the ToR together, give the SC power through an amendment to solve this issue," added the leader of the opposition.
Shah reminded those present that it is in everyone's interest to solve the issue. He also said that everyone should be held accountable including those who had their loans forgiven or have absconded due to financial scandals.
'Opposition's responsibility to keep check on govt'
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, stated that it is the opposition's respondibility to keep the government in check, and criticise the government when it deviates from democratic norms.
"When the incumbent government does not use public funds in a proper manner, it is the opposition which would criticise the government," said Imran.
"It was a unanimous decision of the opposition to walk out of Parliament if the premier did not address the questions we had raised," said Imran.
"If we question you, and you are the prime minister with whom executive authority lies, you are answerable to us, instead of throwing counter allegations at us," said Imran while criticising the premier address.
Democratic societies have transparency, and the leaders of democratic states are answerable to the people and the opposition at all times, added the PTI chief.
'Smear campaign against SKMCH'
Referring to repeated attacks against Shaukat Kahnum Hospital by , Imran questioned the government's strategy of running a smear campaign against a charitable organisation which provides free cancer treatment, in the absence of government facilities.
"You are the government, you have investigative agencies under your command, if you suspect any wrongdoing in SKMCH, than you are more then welcome to investigate," stated Imran.
Imran also challenged all those present to show one private cancer hospital in the world which treats 70 per cent of its patients for free.
Sharif family's offshore companies
The PTI chief was of the opinion that if the offshore companies connected to Nawaz's family did not own property worth billions, then they would have been irrelevant and no issues would have been raised regarding their existence.
"The offshore companies would have been irrelevant, but they are not as assets worth billions are linked to them."
Clarifying his position, Imran added that he never hid any assets, including assets connected to offshore companies.
"I was interviewed in the South Kensington apartment, the whole world knew it was my property. I hid nothing," stated Imran.
The PTI chief informed the house that he would present documents today, which would clarify the purchase cost and eventual sale price of his apartment in 2003. He added that he brought funds back to Pakistan through legal channels and did not hide the source.
Recalling a light-hearted exchange with Nawaz Sharif, Imran said he remembers clearly when he told Nawaz of his apartment years ago.
"I told Nawaz that I've bought a penthouse apartment and he asked me what a penthouse apartment was. I told him its the apartment on the top floor. Nawaz expressed concern and asked would a storm not blow away your apartment?"
'PM should have resigned after assembly address'
Imran stated the prime minister should have resigned following his address to the assembly, as his address was misrepresentation of facts.
"Nawaz Sharif said he had no connection with the offshore companies. But he did have a connection, as Maryam Safdar in 2011 stated that she was his dependant, while ICIJ documents show she owned two offshore companies during that time," said the PTI chief.
The two offshore companies owned Mayfair apartments, hence it is incorrect to say that Nawaz had no connection as he was her guardian, added Imran.
"The prime minister also stated that he paid Rs1 billion in tax for the 12 companies owned, Rs0.8 billion out of amount was General Sales Tax (GST), which is paid by the people. How can he claim that amount as his own?," questioned Imran while agreeing with Khursheed Shah's earlier statement.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in his long-awaited speech before the National Assembly on the Panamagate issue on Monday, again spoke about the chequered history of his family businesses, arguing that his father had left him enough money to buy properties in London.
His 30-minute address, however, did not impress the opposition, which walked out in unison, instead of responding to the prime minister’s claim that his family had made its businesses profitable, even under adverse circumstances.
Dr Mubashir Hassan, former finance minister from 1971 to 1974, however, contested Sharif’s claim, saying that his family never sought nor received consent from the State Bank to send money abroad, a compulsory step to legally transfer money abroad.
“In those days it was impossible to send money legally without the State Bank’s approval,” he said.
The PM presented documentary evidence of taxes worth Rs10 billion, which his family had paid over the past 23 years, and details of the sale of two steel mills; one in the UAE which was sold in 1980 for 33.37 million dirhams, and another in Saudi Arabia, whose sale netted his family $17m in 2005.
He said this money was used to buy properties in London, but didn’t touch specifically on the offshore companies said to be owned by his two sons and daughter.
