Senate committee to scrutinise govt's counter-Panama ads in PM's defence

A Senate committee has decided to scrutinise the expenditures incurred on advertisement in electronic and print media in defence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family's mention in the Panama leaks.

Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Information has summoned a meeting of the body on May 9 in response to the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) demand.

The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting will review the legal status of money spent on the advertisement defending the Sharif family and will examine whether it was from the national exchequer or not.

The PPP had lashed out on Thursday at the federal government for 'misuse' of public funds by issuing newspaper advertisements in defence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose family members are facing allegations of money laundering and corruption in the wake of the Panama Papers leak.

The newspaper advertisement released by the government defending the PM. ─ Dawn

PPP also submitted a notice to the National Assembly Secretariat seeking a justification from the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rasheed over the use of public funds to promote a personal and party agenda.

On Wednesday, the government released half-page colour advertisements in major newspapers carrying excerpts of a news item regarding a correction issued by the International Consortium for Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

The committee will also discuss the federal government's ban on ‘Maalik’ movie in its May 9 meeting.