Rejecting the opposition and Pakistan Bar Council objections, the one-member Broadsheet Inquiry Commission started its work, reported 24NewsHD TV channel quoting its sources on Wednesday.

Sources claimed Broadsheet Inquiry Commission Chief Justice (retd) Azmat Saeed reached the Secretariat set up in the Shariah Court, Islamabad.

The Secretariat has also become functional as Justice (retd) Azmat Saeed Commission has started an investigation into the Broadsheet case.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has already claimed that the Broadsheet inquiry would be bigger than the Panama Papers scam. “It will be Panama Papers Leaks II plus,” he said. On the other hand, opposition party PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz termed the UK-based Broadsheet report as a ‘Fraud sheet’.

Justice (retd) Azmat Saeed has been empowered to form committees consisting of officers and experts.

The Broadsheet Commission will complete its inquiry in six weeks and it also examines the reasons and implications of the cancellation of agreements with the International Asset Recovery IAR.

The probe commission will also identify the reasons and implications of Pakistan's payments to Broadsheet in 2008.

Justice (retd) Azmat Saeed led Commission will also determine the financial losses to the country as a result of closing various cases.

The probe commission has been empowered to summon any person for the investigation into the matter. The commission will also investigate other corruption cases.

The TV channel sources claimed that well-reputed officers have been appointed in the probe committee.

Sources said that commission has been set up keeping in view of all the requirements and considerations including the logistical support.

Security beefs up

The Ministry of Law wrote a letter to the Ministry of Defence and directed the security personnel and vehicles to head the Broadsheet Inquiry Commission Justice (R) Sheikh Azmat Saeed.

The letter reads, “…Broadsheet Commission has been constituted by the Cabinet Division In this connection it is a dire need to provide security for the Justice (R) Sheikh Azmat Saeed (former Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan) of the Commission as per the entitlement on 03 02 2021 till further orders.”

“In order to avoid any untoward situation, it is therefore requested that two police vehicles (one escort vehicle comprising for police armed personnel and one jammer vehicles and 2 gunmen may be provided to Justice (R) Sheikh Azmat Saeed (former Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan) for the Commission in the old PMIC building  G-5/1, Islamabad,” the letter reads.