Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced that the commission will probe his family links with the offshore firms. (File photo)
Islamabad:
Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan today offered to probe the Panama Paper Leaks through Federal Investigation Agency after two former supreme court chief justices refused to head a judicial commission announced by the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced that the commission will probe his family links with the offshore firms after Panama papers claimed that his daughter Mariam and two sons - Hasan and Hussain - were having offshore companies.
"It was the government's wish that the commission should be headed by a former chief justice, but after criticism from the opposition, two candidates who had been contacted backed out. No former chief justice wants to be involved with these allegations," Mr Khan said.
He said that the government was ready to set up a probe commission as soon as a judge agrees to lead it. However, he said that since opposition leader Imran Khan rejected the proposed commission and demanded a probe by FIA, he was ready to task the Federal Investigation Agency if Mr Khan comes up with a name of any official.
"If Imran Khan wishes to have the FIA investigate the claims made by the Panama leaks, the Interior Ministry is ready for it," he said. "Now that Imran Khan has called for an agency to investigate, I invite him to name a team or officer to investigate."
Meanwhile, Imran Khan welcomed the Interior Minister's offer to nominate any FIA official and has requested to nominate ex-FIA chief Dr Shoaib Suddle to head the probe. "Shoaib Suddle holds great professional credibility and expertise in investigating white collar crime, and he should be given full authority to carry out an independent investigation into the Panama Papers," cricketer-turned-politician said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced that the commission will probe his family links with the offshore firms after Panama papers claimed that his daughter Mariam and two sons - Hasan and Hussain - were having offshore companies.
"It was the government's wish that the commission should be headed by a former chief justice, but after criticism from the opposition, two candidates who had been contacted backed out. No former chief justice wants to be involved with these allegations," Mr Khan said.
He said that the government was ready to set up a probe commission as soon as a judge agrees to lead it. However, he said that since opposition leader Imran Khan rejected the proposed commission and demanded a probe by FIA, he was ready to task the Federal Investigation Agency if Mr Khan comes up with a name of any official.
"If Imran Khan wishes to have the FIA investigate the claims made by the Panama leaks, the Interior Ministry is ready for it," he said. "Now that Imran Khan has called for an agency to investigate, I invite him to name a team or officer to investigate."
Meanwhile, Imran Khan welcomed the Interior Minister's offer to nominate any FIA official and has requested to nominate ex-FIA chief Dr Shoaib Suddle to head the probe. "Shoaib Suddle holds great professional credibility and expertise in investigating white collar crime, and he should be given full authority to carry out an independent investigation into the Panama Papers," cricketer-turned-politician said.
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