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.
Related: ‘PM-first’ ToR main irritant for Panama committee
"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.