ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Friday declined the federal government’s plea to form a judicial commission to probe the Panama Papers leaks.
Announcing the decision, CJP Jamali said in order for a commission to be formed, a legislation will first have to be passed by the parliament.
He further added that a judicial commission cannot be formed until the issue of terms of references (ToRs) is resolved.
“Formation of Commission of Inquiry under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 1956 (Act VI of 1956), looking to its limited scope, will result in the constitution of a toothless Commission, which will serve no useful purpose, except giving bad name to it,” CJP Jamali wrote in the letter.
The government in April wrote a letter to the top court to constitute a commission to probe the Panama Papers leaks.
But the nation had to wait for a month for the court’s response as Supreme Court’s (SC) senior judge Justice Mian Saqib Nisar – who took oath as the acting chief justice – said the decision on the federal government’s request will be taken by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali after his return from Turkey.
