Justice Azmat to head Broadsheet investigation despite Opposition’s reservations

• PPP and PML-N have rejected the nomination of Justice (retd) Azmat Saeed to investigate the Broadsheet scandal
• The Federal Cabinet has approved the commission to be set up under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017
• The inquiry commission will submit its findings on the Broadsheet issue within 45 days

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet on Tuesday approved the formation of a single-member commission headed by Justice (retd) Azmat Saeed to investigate the Broadsheet scandal despite strong reservations from the Opposition parties.

The PPP and PML-N had rejected the name of the former Supreme Court judge to investigate the matter saying he was with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) when the deal was signed with the asset recovery firm.

The PML-N is of the view that because the top court judge was in the Panama bench which disqualified former Nawaz Sharif and is a member of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital’s Board of Governors so it does not believe a transparent probe would be conducted.

Briefing the media about the federal cabinet decisions and replying to their questions on Tuesday, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz Tuesday said the commission was set up under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017, instead of a committee, to investigate the Broadsheet case to bring the truth before the nation.

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Widening the scope of investigations, the PTI government tasked the commission to probe Hudaibiya Sugar Mills scam and Surrey Palace of the PPP leaders as well.

The inquiry commission, Shibli explained, would submit its findings on the Broadsheet issue within 45 days and expose those who had played a key role in destroying the country’s economy. The commission, as per its terms of reference (ToRs), could summon any institution or individual or seek documents.

Shibli said the Broadsheet case had exposed as to how the past regimes had put political expediency over morality to give safe passage to the corrupt people, which eventually led to the acceptance of corruption in society.

Replying to questions, Shibli clarified that the Broadsheet issue investigation was not against the government rivals but those, who were criminals and had a role in causing massive financial and moral loss to the nation.

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To a query, the minister contended that hopefully Justice (retd) Azmat Saeed Sheikh would conduct the Broadsheet investigation; otherwise, there might have been a statement from him by now. He described him the best and most competent person for the job, having a vast experience of NAB as well as the Supreme Court.

The minister claimed that the opposition was raising hue and cry over his name, as they knew he was an honest person and was capable of taking the matter to its logical end.

He said the government’s objective was to let the nation know, how certain characters, resorted to political expediency and got an NRO [deal]. “Please, don’t give it a political colour,” he said.

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He continued that again these very characters touted 34 amendments to the NAB law, which itself was an NRO, they wanted and even Shahid Khaqan Abbasi demanded pack-up of the anti-graft body.

The minister made it clear that contrary to previous practices, Prime Minister Imran Khan would not bow down to any pressure and hold all the corrupt elements accountable.