Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Sunday refused to head a proposed parliamentary panel to probe Panama leaks, a day after opposition leader in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah suggested his name for the slot.
"I am grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the opposition leader by suggesting my name to head a parliament committee to inquire into the Panama leaks. I am not available for consideration amongst other probable for the following amongst other reasons and grounds," a press statement issued by Rabbani's office said on Sunday.
It said that Rabbani believes that his position as Senate chairman "may have the potential of creating a conflict of interest" besides the inquiry involves "complicated questions of facts, laws and cross jurisdictions which requires specialisation in the said fields".
Rabbani suggested he "lacks expertise in the field of investigation of white collar crimes" which is the prime requirement in this case. "I am the custodian of Senate and my position won't allow me to head such a panel," he added.
He also said that he had his own viewpoint with reference to the effectiveness or otherwise of a parliamentary committee, adding it may not be appropriate for him to assume the task at this stage.
Based on the above points, Rabbani requested that all speculations and comments regarding him with reference to Khursheed Shah's earlier statement should stop.
The development comes in the wake of two main opposition groups, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s, rejection of the probe by Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani - a retired judge, insisting that the chief justice of Pakistan lead the proposed inquiry commission.
On Friday, the government persuaded former Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany to head the commission despite claims by interior minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan that five retired Supreme Court judges including Justice Usmani had refused to lead the inquiry.
"We have respect for Justice Osmany, but his family has joined the PML-N. An inquiry led by him will not be considered impartial," Khursheed Shah had said while talking to journalists.
"If the chief justice does not agree [to head the commission], a parliamentary commission, led by Raza Rabbani, should be given the task. MPs from treasury and opposition benches should be included in such a commission," Shah added, with a hope that Rabbani would be acceptable to all political parties.
However, a senior PTI leader who wished not to be named said he knew Justice Sarmad from college days as he was his class fellow, and he would not accept the offer unless all political parties accept his candidature to head an inquiry commission.
To a question about the association of wife's association with ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he said that it is simply out of question that that Justice Usmani would accept the offer he knew PPP and PTI are not ready to accept any commission except a high-powered commission headed by chief justice Supreme Court.
It is pertinent to mention that wife of the former judge joined PMML-N in 2007 when Nawaz Sharif went to his residence to congratulate after he refused to take oath under PCO during the then government of former military strongman General Pervez Musharraf.