LAHORE - The Jamaat-e-Islami has dispelled the impression that it inclined to prolong the Panama leaks case, following its fresh request to the Supreme Court for the formation of enquiry commission on the issue.
“The JI wants the same on what the respectable judges had agreed in first two proceedings on Panama leak case - the appointment of a judge to investigate the high profile case,” Ameerul Azeem, the spokesperson for the Jamaat, told The Nation yesterday.
The religio-political on Saturday urged the Supreme Court to appoint Enquiry & Trial Commission and declare the Panama Papers as its basic document. The JI’s fresh application prayed to the apex court that all persons indicated in the Panama papers along with their families, children, companies and business entities be made respondents, and shall have right to submit their reply in their own defence and in rebuttal to allegations mentioned in the Panama leaks.
It said the FBR and Election Commission shall submit copies of tax return, including details of properties, assets etc., in and out of country, along with copies of documents and papers before the proposed commission within specified period.
Analysts have termed the JI’s fresh move an undue favour to its old ally, keeping in view the Jamaat-e-Islami’s past alliances with the PML-N.
They say Jamaat’s request for the formation of commission on Panama leak case intends to prolong the case in which prime minister, the president of PML-N, is directly respondent.
Ameerul Azam, however, strongly dispelled the impression, saying the JI wanted a speedy trial and wished the decision on Panama case should be announced during the tenure of incumbent chief justice of Pakistan.
“We also want across-the-board investigation of persons/companies named in Panama paper but the accountability must start from the prime minister. “We don’t want the matter be referred to NAB, FBR or other investigation agencies rather a commission under a judge should probe the case and all institutions must cooperate with him,” the spokesman added.
Ameer further said it was the JI which first filed application in the Supreme Court on Panama leaks, opposing PTI stance to resolve the matter by bringing people on roads. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, he added, later went to the apex court following the JI footsteps.
