ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday left for London via Moscow for a medical treatment.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that the prime minister had deferred his check-up a number of times because of his pressing engagements. The prime minister’s two sons – Hassan and Hussain – are already out of the Pakistan, and whether Nawaz Sharif’s mother, wife Kalsoom Nawaz and other family members are accompanying with him.
According to the media reports claimed that the tour of Nawaz was suggested to spend a week in London to relieve his ‘stress and anxiety’ because of the situation developed after Panama Papers leak. In the aftermath of the Panama Papers, sudden announcement of the prime minister’s travel plan has set off speculation in the capital about the circumstances behind his scheduled departure for London.
A massive leak of 11.5 million tax documents on April 3 exposed the secret offshore dealings of world leaders and celebrities, also naming three of the prime minister’s children for owning real estate through offshore companies in London. Last week, in a rare televised address to the nation, the prime minister had said a judicial commission headed by a former judge would investigate his family for any wrongdoing.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would act as a caretaker of Prime Minister’s House during Nawaz Sharif’s private visit to London beginning on Wednesday. Earlier, Ishaq Dar has postponed his UK and USA visits, where he was scheduled to hold meetings with IMF officials, to oversee Prime Minister’s affairs in Pakistan.
– Nawaz trip to beg Zardari’s help –
Senior PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was going to London to beg for Asif Zardari’s help on the issue of Panama leaks. “Nawaz Sharif is going to London on one-point mission to meet PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari and plead for his support,” he told a private TV channel.
Ahsan, however, warned that PPP would be in great trouble if it decided to support Nawaz Sharif this time. The prime minister’s spokesman denied that the Nawaz Sharif desired to meet the PPP leadership during his visit to London.
– Zardari refuses to back govt over Panama papers –
Zardari has also refused to extend his party’s support to the Pakistan Muslim League-N government facing tremendous pressure over Panama leaks. According to private TV channel, PPP leadership has contacted Asif Ali Zardari to get his advice about the party’s stance on Panama papers. The former president has directed his party to give a “tough time” to the ruling party, they said.
