PPP submits bill for Panama Papers probe in Senate

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Wednesday submitted a bill of Panama Papers Inquiry Act 2016 in the Senate Secretariat.

The bill compels the government to write to the chief justice of Pakistan to constitute a three-member inquiry commission comprising of senior judges of the Supreme Court, to probe Panama Papers claims.

It demands the commission to be fully empowered, the terms of reference (ToRs) of which are also included in the draft. If the ToRs need to be amended, then it could only be done through a consensus between government and opposition.

"Those having their names in the Panama Papers will provide the inquiry panel with access to their accounts," it reads.

The commission itself would set a period for the completion of inquiry and it would send a report of every case to the government, which would be bound to make it pubic within a week.

Central and provincial governments, NAB, FIA, IB, FBR, State Bank and all the institutions will assist the inquiry commission and will be bound to execute the order by it.

The government would also provide financial, legal and diplomatic support to the inquiry body.

On the occasion, PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said the bill does not discriminate against anyone. "If the prime minister and his family are not involved in any corruption, then the government should not object to the bill," he said.