Panama Commission may get services of foreign audit firm: sources

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission, announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to investigate Panama leaks allegations, may get the services of foreign audit firms, official sources said.

The official sources said the federal government would also help the judicial commission get access to the international audit firm and provide funds for it.

The government has directed all the departments to provide assistance to the commission wherever needed.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday announced that he would write a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) for setting up a commission to probe the allegations being leveled against his family in the wake of the Panama Leaks.

The federal government on Friday issued the Terms of Reference (TORs) for the inquiry commission to be constituted for probing the Panama Leaks involving some 200 Pakistani businessmen and politicians for their alleged involvement in the offshore companies.

The commission would have the powers to question any person and enter any building and retrieve records and take it into its possession.

Commission to be delayed

The formation of Judicial Commission, announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his address on Friday to probe into Panama leaks allegations against his family, has been deferred till May 1.

The constitution of the inquiry commission is put on hold as Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has left for seven-day visit to Turkey.

Speaking to media after taking oath of acting chief justice, Justice Saqib Nisar said; “Decision over judicial commission will be made on the arrival of CJP Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali from Turkey.”

He said powers of acting Chief Justice are limited.

The Panama Papers had revealed the names of some 200 businessmen and politicians from Pakistan, including members of Premier Nawaz Sharif’s family for establishing offshore companies in a tax haven.

The opposition parties have rejected ToRs of the inquiry commission, saying there was nothing new in the address of the prime minister to the nation