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Opposition critical of ‘one-member commission’ to probe Sharif family
[DAWN] Politicians belonging to opposition parties severely criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
's decision to form a judicial commission to clear his children of allegations that resurfaced after 'Panama Papers' revelations.

The Pakistain People's Party termed the premier's address to the nation last evening "most unfortunate," because he "blamed his woes on the policies of Zulfikar and Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
 to deflect the storm brewing as a result of the Panama Papers."

"Instead of answering questions raised in the leaked documents, the PM resorted to a blame-game against PPP leaders," Farhatullah Babar, the party’s spokesperson, said in a statement issued soon after the PM’s address.

Responding to the PM’s claims regarding the detention of the fat merchantman ’Jonathan’, Babar said, "He conveniently forgot that the fat merchantman was held up by customs authorities after it was found to be carrying a sugar plant instead of the intended steel scrap cargo."

The prime minister, Babar said, would do well to answer questions raised by the leaked documents, rather than playing a blame-game.

Talking to a private television channel, Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
 leader Asad Umar claimed that the whole nation is disappointed over the "one-member judicial commission" formed to probe such a critical matter.

"He [PM Nawaz] said whoever has a complaint against him or his family shall go to the commission and prove it, which is a joke since it is the PM who needs to prove his innocence," said Umar.

PTI front man Naeemul Haq, in a statement, said the PM had not specified who would choose the judge to head the proposed judicial commission, or whether it will be empowered to examine Sharifs’ assets abroad as well.

Haq also contended that rather than anyone else having to prove their claims, it was the Sharifs who would have to account for their wealth before the commission.

Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
 emir Sirajul Haq
...current head of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. Siraj was born in 1962 and entered politics shortly after that...
 said if the premier sincerely desires a probe, he should immediately hand over the matter to the National Accountability Bureau so that the truth is out.

He said given nature of the allegations, inquiry into the matter is not the job of a retired judge. Rather a full-fledged investigation agency should do the task.

Or else, he suggested, the matter should be entrusted to the Chief Justice of Pakistain who should appoint a judicial commission comprising three senior most judges of the apex court for the purpose.
Posted by: Fred 2016-04-07
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=451691