Declaring the settlement of Dawn Leaks controversy a wheeling-dealing on the issue of national security, lawmakers in Senate on Friday staged a walkout against the absence of Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan who did not turn to take the House into confidence on the matter. Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani agreed with Leader of Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan that the interior minister should have been present, as the matter is very serious but added it is the government's prerogative to appoint someone. He further said that Parliament should not be treated in this way.
He also expressed dissatisfaction over the government's reply in the matter, according to which both the government and the army enjoy equal status (two parties). Referring to Articles 243 and 90 of the Constitution to point out that the government shall have the command and control of the armed forces. He noted the statement issued by the government had shown the government and the army as two parties to 'settle' it.
"The minister should tell me what is meant by two parties with regard to the Dawn Leaks issue that two institutions sat: on one side was the government on the other side...please read clause 1 of Article 243: what does it say; please don't make mockery of the Constitution," he retorted. Rabbani announced to consult Leader of the House Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, Leader of Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan and parliamentary leaders on what should be the way forward and how the Senate be kept abreast of what exactly happened with regard to the settlement of the Dawn Leaks report. By the time he announced this, Raja Zafar managed to bring Aitzaz and other opposition senators to the House.
Leader of Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan contended that neither the Prime Minister nor the army, including the Chief of Army Staff, is above the Parliament. "They can't be allowed to settle the matter while ignoring the Parliament. Their representatives should be present in the legislature," he asserted while slamming the minister for interior for his alleged non-seriousness.
Senator Aitzaz said that Pervaiz Rashid, Tariq Fatemi and Rao Tehsin were made scapegoats to save Maryam Nawaz and asked how could the three leak the information on their own. He contended whether the information of the closed-door meeting on security issues was leaked or fabricated information was passed on, the issue was extremely serious and could not be handled and settled this way.
"The leak was extremely embarrassing for Pakistan and the armed forces that the civilian government wanted to go after the terrorists, but the army was the hurdle and protecting them," he said referring to the Dawn Leaks. "We can't accept this settlement of the matter. What was decided, what was the evidence and what was in the commission report? Everything should be presented before the Parliament," he said.
Aitzaz said that the official meetings at the Prime Minister House were bugged by its media cell and referred to then government spokesman Muhammad Zubair, who in a TV talk show had revealed having heard participants of an APC on Kashmir while sitting in the media cell at the Prime Minister House, which was never denied.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak charged that the armed forces withdrew and it was a black spot and the worst had happened, regarding the DG ISPR tweet rejecting the government's steps in the light of the Dawn Leaks Commission report. "JIT is a still a born baby, as the military people have already surrendered. The army made a blunder. The army chief should own the responsibility and resign," he said.
In a conflict with the military, he alleged, the Prime Minister had always thrived. He called for open proceedings of the JIT formed to implement Panama Papers case in order to ensure transparency.
Winding up the debate on the issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sh Aftab Ahmad said the matter has been settled in an amicable way and that it has strengthened democracy in the country. The minister said that some forces within Pakistan and outside wanted to destabilise democratic system over the issue but the matter was handled and resolved prudently. He added the matter has been resolved and that it is neither anyone's defeat nor victory.
He urged all the political parties and the media to end debate on Dawn Leaks in the best interests of Pakistan, for stability of democracy and supremacy of the Constitution. On Panama Papers, Aitzaz, Sirajul Haq, Sherry Rehman, Nauman Wazir and other opposition senators alleged that the government wants to mislead the nation instead of coming up with evidence on how the London properties were bought. They said Panama issue had absolutely nothing to do with CPEC, as ICIJ had released authentic information on corruption scandals. The opposition senators said people are fed up with speeches by the lawmakers and want practical measures to combat corruption, which is rampant everywhere. They insisted that without accountability of the powerful, Pakistan would not move forward and said rulers' stakes in business are also a matter of concern.
They noted that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has saved his political heir, Maryam Nawaz, in Dawn Leaks issue. Aitzaz announced to share documents on payment of taxes of Rs 477 by Nawaz in 1994, 1995 and 1996 with JIT.