LAHORE(INP): The Jamaat e Islami on Wednesday filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court seeking trial of the persons and companies named in the Panama leaks.
The petition filed under article 184(3) of the constitution prayed to the apex court to order the federation, the Law Ministry, the Cabinet division and the NAB to hold investigation into the Panama leaks and try the accused under the law of the land. It also prayed that all those involved in the Panama leaks be arrested, and the plundered money be recovered from them.
The petition was filed through Asad Manzur advocate while the JI Ameer, Senator Sirajul Haq, JI deputy chiefs Asadullah Bhutto and Mian Mhammad Aslam, JI MNAs and other party leaders were also present.
The petition said that the Panama Leaks was a matter of public interest as some important personalities of the country, public representatives and businessmen were named therein but the investigation agencies had not taken any action so far to probe the issue.
Talking to the media after filing the petition, the JI chief said that financial terrorism had been going on in the country alongside armed terrorism. He said that financial terrorism was far more harmful than militancy and an operation against it was also essential.
He said that corruption was like cancer and Pakistan could not development unless this evil was wiped out. He said that it was due to financial terrorists that every born child of the country was heavily indebted to the World Bank and the IMF. He said that all institutions had failed and the people were transferring their money to foreign countries. He said the JI wanted to know how and by what means, these people had amassed so much wealth.
Sirajul Haq pointed out that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had addressed the nation thrice but only offered his personal defense.
He said the JI had approached the Supreme Court for a clear order to the government to make legislation for setting up an effective judicial commission for Panama Leaks scandal. He said there were already several institutions to curb corruption but none of these had moved perhaps because the government was not interested.
Sirajul Haq said the JI would chase the corrupt in every sphere of life including past and present rulers, generals and bureaucrats. He said that a transparent accountability would strengthen democratic set up.
