Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party bigwigs have castigated the governing party's reaction and the prime minister's announcement of a commission to probe the Panama paper leaks, saying they are "nothing but a farce". The scandal has prompted global investigations after a huge leak of confidential documents revealed how tax havens are used to hide wealth. Eleven million documents were leaked from the secretive Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. They show how the company has helped some clients launder money, dodge sanctions and avoid tax.
The documents feature 12 current or former heads of state, and at least 60 people linked to current or former world leaders. Party leaders Jahangir Khan Tareen and Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, speaking at a consultation meeting with party workers from Multan, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, DG Khan and other districts, scoffed at the rulers for admitting their corruption and seeking apology from the nation, saying they should "prove themselves innocent instead of asking people to prove them guilty".
They also accused the governing party of wanting to set up a hand-picked commission to get the Sharif names cleared. Party chairman's Advisor, Abdul Aleem Khan, and party workers were too present, assuring their support in the intra-party elections. The two leaders went on to accuse the rulers of being corrupt and looting the nation. "The rulers should admit their corruption instead of trying to befool the masses once again. Such fraudsters must not stay in power and leave after apologising to the nation. Otherwise, they will face the fate of the Irish prime minister [in reference to Enda Kenny who had admitted his coalition government failure to secure a return to office]."
They also urged the Election Commission to have the Sharif family disqualified for concealing their assets. "Everybody knew that the Sharif family had left for Saudi Arabia after reaching a 10-year agreement and now terming their stay abroad as forced banishment," they added.