Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday declared interior minister's press conference on Justice Faez Isa inquiry report as a "direct attack" on Supreme Court and demanded his resignation along with chief minister and home minister of Balochistan in wake of the findings of the report.
A joint meeting of PTI's parliamentary committee of both Senate and National Assembly, chaired by party chairman Imran Khan at his Bani Gala residence, it was decided that a joint strategy with other opposition political parties would be chalked out on Monday (today) to give a 'tough time' to government on Panama Leaks and the Quetta Commission's report.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should explain his position before National Assembly about his address to the House with regard to Panama Leaks.
According to him, there are two point of views from the government side on Panama papers issue, one which has been given before the Supreme Court and the other which the Prime Minister gave in his speech to the National Assembly.
"So, no one else except the Prime Minister can better explain his position with regard to the difference in the stance and PTI demands that he [PM] should explain his position before the Hose on Monday", he said, adding the PTI would explain its stance on the report of the inquiry commission as well as the Prime Minister's speech with regard to Panama papers.
To a question, he said if the Prime Minister continued to stay away from the National Assembly's proceeding, then the PTI, in consultation with other opposition political parties, would chalk out its next course of action.
Qureshi further said that the party's meeting discussed yesterday press conference by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and described it as a 'direct attack' on the Supreme Court and believed that the interior minister has committed contempt of court.
"Justice Qazi Faez Isa is a sitting and well reputed judge of the apex court. Chaudhry Nisar also threatened [Supreme Court] of a direct confrontation and if the apex court take a suo motu of the contempt of court, we will not be surprised", he added.
He said that PTI chairman Imran Khan has already demanded resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for being captain of his team, adding after the report of the inquiry commission, not only Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar but chief Minister Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri but provincial home minister should also tender their resignations.
He further said that it was also surprising that the interior minister dubbed the commission's report as 'one-sided', adding Chaudhry Nisar, in his presser, once denied to have met with chief of the banned Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi while at the same time admitted that he was part of the delegation of Difa e Pakistan Council in the meeting.
"The question arises as to why and how, he [Nisar] allowed chief of a proscribed organisation to sit with him in the meeting when his organisation has been banned by none other but his ministry", he posed a question.
With regard to holding of a public meeting in Islamabad which was addressed by the same leader and others from the banned outfit, he said that it was a clear discrimination to allow one outfit for holding the public meeting despite Section-144 was imposed and deny the right of holding a party convention for a political party inside a marquee hall.
Qureshi further said that the party also discussed the fate of the 21st Constitutional amendment under which the military courts were established which is going to expire on January 7, 2016.
"We and the people of the entire country are particularly concerned of the situation after the expiry of the mandate of the military courts. Who would deal with the terrorists and their pending cases once the mandate of the military courts come to an end"?, he asked, adding the government must explain and remove the uncertainty.
When asked about his party's position on the continuation of the military courts, he declined to share the party's position at this stage, saying PTI does have its position on the future of these courts but it will give its stance once the government clarifies its position.
He pointed out that under the 21st amendment, the government had committed to bring certain reforms both in judicial system with a view not to further depend on military courts and to depoliticize the police. "We cannot see any clear cut reforms, neither in the judicial system nor in the police", he regretted.
Qureshi further said that he had already contacted Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, opposition leaders in National Assembly and Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, opposition leader in the Senate, to meet on Monday [today] ahead of the National Assembly session with leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, PML-Q and AML of Sheikh Rashid for a joint strategy in both houses of the parliament.
To another question, Qureshi said that he had already explained his position to the party chairman that he would join [in personal capacity] if the PPP takes to the streets after December 27 on the issue of Panama papers.