RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government owns and takes responsibility for each and every word of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's political statement about his family's assets abroad in the aftermath of Panama Leaks, which was given on the floor of the National Assembly.

Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said this here on Thursday on the floor of the National Assembly, while responding to Wednesday's speech of Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah in the Lower House of the Parliament.

The minister said, "Our party accepts responsibility for whatever was said by the Prime Minister in his statement. The political statement of our Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is not false but it is based on the truth and reality. We had known that the case of Panama Leaks will go into the court because the talks were made about the judicial commission at that time."

He aid that he did not agree with the Opposition Leader that the Prime Minister told lie in the Parliament. He said the statement given in the Supreme Court is an elaborated and detailed one.

Saad Rafiq said, "We will follow the case of Panama Papers as we will not want to participate in next general election 2018 with this issue. We will take the issue of Panama Leaks to its logical end."

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) accused the Prime Minister but it did not present any evidence in the apex court. Now, the case of Panama Leaks is in the apex court and let the court decide it, he said.

He said that earlier PTI Chairman Imran Khan had said that offshore companies are only to whiten the black money, which is illegal. Now, the offshore companies of Imran Khan, Jehangir Tareen and Aleem Khan are also exposed, he added.

The minister said those people who do their business abroad are not bound to appear before the court on this issue but the Prime Minister has said that his family will appear in the court to clear themselves. He said the Prime Minister has directed all the party members for extending all possible cooperation for early decision of the Panama Papers case.

He said that the government is ready to discuss Panama Papers issue at any level and also in the House.

Saad Rafiq said that PTI has been levelling baseless allegations since the start of this government but it always failed to prove any allegation. He said PTI should pay attention towards its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and improve its performance there. He said that there is PPP government in Sindh. But both the parties did not discuss the performance of their governments in the Parliament. "We should compete on the basis of performance of the governments," he added.

The minister for railways said that PTI should come in the House and work for betterment of the general public; rather than mere levelling allegations. He said PTI should take part in the legislative process for the development of the country.

The minister also sought apology and withdrew his words 'hooligan' which he used about the PTI members on Wednesday in the House.

Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said dialogue is the only way forward to resolve all the issues. He said, "By working together, we can make positive development in the House for the betterment of the country and its people."