Story Highlights
Panama Leaks
The joint opposition had prepared a questionnaire for prime minister to answer in parliament over revelations by Panama Papers regarding involvement of his children in offshore business. As opposition demands Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to explain himself in parliament over his family’s off-shore companies, the prime minister reacted by saying that he was not answerable to the opposition on Panama leaks and that there was no justification for the opposition to raise hue and cry after his letter to the chief justice to form a commission to probe the issue. He also made it clear that he will talk about the controversy before the judicial commission only.
Meanwhile Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif met prime minister this week. He told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resolve the issue of Panama leaks without wasting any further time as Pakistan was facing not only internal challenges but also external threats. The army chief reportedly stressed upon the prime minister to settle the matter of Panama leaks in consultation with the opposition.
Moreover names of another 259 Pakistanis with links to offshore companies have surfaced in Panama Papers, made public by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) this week. The names in the latest release of documents include businessmen and politicians
Ex- PM’s Son Recovered
Son of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who was kidnapped some three years back from Multan during an election rally, has been recovered from Afghanistan in a joint operation carried out by US and Afghan forces. According to reports he was under custody of an al-Qaeda associated group. According to media reports ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan conveyed the news of recovery of his son to former PM Yousaf Raza Gilani. According to media reports the operation was conducted in Giyan district of Paktika province.
The news of Ali Haider’s recovery was first announced by Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Twitter. Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also telephoned Yousuf Raza Gilani to congratulate him on the recovery of his son. Meanwhile scenes of joyous celebration were seen in Multan and Lahore residence of Gilani. Former PM Yousaf Raza Gilani thanked Afghan and US forces over successful operation.
While talking to media Ali Haider Gilani also thanked Afghan government and US forces. Family of Ali Haider Gilani rejected the reports that they paid any ransom. This year in March, son of former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer who was abducted five years ago from Lahore, was also recovered from Balochistan.
Hanging In Bangladesh
Execution of Jamaat-e-Islami president in Bangladesh Motiur Rahman Nizami caused uproar back in Pakistan. Nizami, president of the Jamaat-e-Islami, was hanged at Dhaka’s Central Jail on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the massacre of intellectuals during the 1971 war. Pakistan’s National Assembly passed a resolution condemning his execution and asked the international community to take notice of violations of human rights by the Bangladeshi government.
The hanging is also a violation of the agreement signed in 1974 by Pakistan, Bangladesh and India that the war issue would not be reopened in future. The resolution also demanded that the government of Pakistan take appropriate steps to stop executions in Bangladesh on political grounds. At the outset of the proceedings, the National Assembly also offered prayers for Bangladeshi leader. Pakistan also summoned Bangladeshi high commissioner and lodged strong protest.
The statement issued by Foreign Office also said that the attempts by the government of Bangladesh to malign Pakistan despite latter’s keen desire to develop brotherly relations, are regrettable. Meanwhile, Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Bangladesh in protest while UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also regretted the hanging. Nizami, 71, was hanged in a Dhaka prison after he refused to appeal for clemency against the death sentence handed down following his conviction for genocide and other war crimes during the 1971 war.
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