ISLAMABAD - Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani yesterday declined to head the parliamentary committee to probe the Panama leaks, saying he was not a suitable person for the purpose.
Rabbani, in a statement here, said:”I am grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the opposition leader in the National Assembly of Pakistan, by suggesting my name to head a parliamentary committee to inquire into the Panama Leaks.”
He said in his capacity as senate chairman, he was the custodian of the rights of the Senate in particular and the Parliament in general so such a position might have the potential of creating a conflict of interests.
“The Panama leaks inquiry involves complicated questions of facts, laws and cross jurisdictions, which require specialisation in the said fields,” he said adding that it required expertise in the field of investigation of white collar crime, which he lacked.
“In my point of view with reference to the effectiveness or otherwise of a parliamentary committee, it will not be appropriate for me, as chairman senate, to go into at this stage.”
Rabbani expressed the hope that all speculations and comments with reference to Syed Khurshid Shah’s statement relating and pertaining to himself (Rabbani) in the said matter would cease.
Rabbani is expected to meet PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to discuss political situation and the issue of Panama leaks