ISLAMABAD – In his much-debated address to the nation on Friday evening, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that he will resign and go home if proven guilty by the Panama Papers investigation.
“I challenge all those who allege tax fraud to come forward and present evidence. If charges are proved against me, I will resign immediately,” he said. The prime minister stated that a decision has been taken by him to write a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan for the formation of a commission to probe the allegations levelled against him and his family.
“We will accept the recommendations presented forth by the commission,” he said. “Once again certain elements are attempting to destabilise Pakistan in the wake of Panama Papers,” he said. “Soon after the issue surfaced, I took the nation into confidence and ordered the formation of a judicial commission under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge,” he said.
“We have answered such allegations in the past and we will do it again, because we believe that as a democratic government and representatives of the people, it is our duty to answer these allegations,” he said. “The commission has not yet been established, but some ‘people’ have already passed judgments,” he stated.
– PM answerable to people –
Nawaz said that the incumbent government has always supported accountability, and has taken steps to make the taxpayers directory public on FBR’s website. “When I was told that the details of assets of public representatives were removed from the Election Commission’s website, I took notice of the issue and asked (federal minister) Ishaq Dar to re-issue these details,” he said.
He reiterated that he was only answerable to the people of Pakistan, and not to politicians which indulge in point scoring. He also requested the media to first confirm facts behind any allegations before bringing it to the public.
