RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique Thursday said that Speaker Ayaz Sadiq is performing his duties with honesty and impartiality.

While responding to the criticism of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, he said the Speaker’s decision on the disqualification references filed against the Prime Minister and the PTI Chairman is correct and this House endorses his decision.

The minister said that it is the habit of the PTI Chairman to attack the personality of the Speaker he had also hurled allegations of rigging on him. But, he said, it is the same Speaker who did not accept the resignation of the PTI Parliamentarians and protected Imran Khan from his political suicide.

On the references filed against the Prime Minister, the minister said that the four references furnished before the Speaker, regarding the PM, did not carry any documentary evidence. Therefore, the Speaker did not find it appropriate to forward the references to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He said that the Speaker also rejected one reference against the PTI Chairman and forwarded the second one to the ECP, which had substantial material and evidence.

The Minister said that Imran Khan himself is the founder of offshore companies but he never gets tired of hurling accusations on others.

He said that Terms of Reference (TORs) of the Opposition only targeted the Prime Minister. “The PTI deliberately sabotaged the investigation of Panama Leaks”, he added.

He said that the Opposition and the government have separately submitted bills in the Parliament to investigate the Panama leaks.

He said that the government is ready to sit with the opposition parties to chalk out a way forward for investigation into the Panama Papers.

He said the opposition parties during talks with the government themselves were of the view that the investigation should not be person specific.

The Minister invited the opposition parties to sit with the government for framing a joint and comprehensive legislation on investigation into Panama Papers and other corrupt practices. He said the investigation should not be any person specific but should be across the board. He said we should bring such a legislation which not only investigates corruption of the past but also shut doors for malpractices in the future.

He asked Imran Khan to stop the politics of allegations and mud-slinging and demonstrate maturity in his political conduct. He said that the sit-ins and protest of the PTI have affected the economy of the country. He said that we will not allow any party to attack the homes during its protest or sit-in.