Pakistan opposition moves privilege against PM for 'untruthful' speech

Pakistan's opposition parties on Thursday moved a privilege motion in the National Assembly against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for allegedly making an "untruthful" speech in the House last year.

The privilege motion, submitted by Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah, referred to a plea by the Prime Minister's counsel in the Supreme Court in the ongoing Panamagate case.

"The plea by the Prime Minister's lawyer in SC on January 16 to do away with the PM's speech delivered in the NA while explaining the trail of funds used to purchase properties in London and elsewhere as mentioned in Panama Papers, using Article 66 as a shield, are an admission that the PM did not tell the truth to the assembly," the motion said.

The motion has been submitted over discrepancy in Sharif's statement in the Lower House of Parliament and his counsel's statement in the apex court.

"The Prime Minister, while speaking on the floor of NA on May 16, 2016, had explained the trail of funds used to purchase property in one of the most expensive areas of London," it said and added that the details submitted by the Prime Minister's counsel in the apex court were "in sheer contrast with the ones stated by the PM".

It further said that the discrepancy in the statements suggest that Sharif willfully deceived the House on the issue which was a "clear case of contempt of the House".

Claiming that Sharif's statement was a blatant breach of the privilege of the NA, it demanded that the matter be immediately taken up for discussion and action.

--IANS

ahm/dg