SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said on Friday that he had nothing to do with the purchase of mobile phones for Haj pilgrims when he was federal minister for religious affairs in 2012, nor did he see any conspiracy behind ‘resurrection’ of the scandal at this point in time.

The Pakistan Peoples Party leader said that he did not view the corruption scandal as part of a blackmailing tactic to switch attention of the leader of the opposition away from the Panama Papers. It could not be linked to the leaks in any way, he insisted.

Mr Shah told journalists during a visit to Sukkur Public School that he had always presented himself for accountability. He was ready to face probe into the scandal and any investigation agency including FIA, NAB or any other institution could launch the probe.

He said that although he was federal minister he had nothing to do with the purchase of mobile phones nor were the gadgets purchased by him. But one should also remember that these mobile phones had proved very helpful in locating within an hour 400–500 Haj pilgrims who had gone missing, he added.

Mr Shah expressed surprise over the prime minister’s sudden move to address public meetings and said it was a sign of depression and fear. Against whom Mr Sharif had taken the field and what he wanted to prove, he said.

It was only the PPP’s tradition that its prime ministers had tendered resignations over mere allegations. Other parties should also emulate it, he said.

On the Panama Papers, Mr Shah said that all opposition parties were demanding a thorough probe into the Panama Papers leaks and it was also people’s demand. All parties should be united on the issue, he said.

If Panama Papers had nothing against the prime minister it was incomprehensible why the government was spending between Rs100 million and Rs120 million on an advertisement campaign to absolve the PM of allegations of money laundering and offshore companies, he asked.

He said the opposition parties had put forward their unanimously agreed suggestions and now the government was to do nothing but implement them. Only a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation would help bring out the truth before people, he said.

About the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf rally in Sindh, Mr Shah said that it was the PTI’s democratic right to take out rallies, hold meetings and do whatever they desired in the province. There was complete freedom for any political party to carry on its activities in Sindh or any part of the country, he said.

The PPP was never afraid of any political party’s activities in Sindh, neither in the past nor today because the party believed its power was intact among the people, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2016