ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday said the government had contacted senior former judges of the apex court, including former chief justices, to head the inquiry commission that will probe the Sharif family post-Panama data leaks.

Nisar read out five names of former Supreme Court justices – Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Tasadiq Jilani, Justice Amirul Mulk Mengal, Justice Sahir Ali and Justice Tanvir Ahmad Khan – all of whom he said had been contacted by the government to head the Panama Papers probe.

“But all of these judges after taking the time to think over the matter, refused to lead the commission without giving any reasons,” said the interior minister.

“If the government was not interested in transparency, why would we go ahead and request these renowned judges to lead the investigation?”

But, he lamented, the political scenario in the wake of the data leaks means these former judges are reluctant to become part of the probe.

Nisar heavily criticised all opposition figures who he said were resorting to “cheap tactics” to gain political mileage.

“Inhumane criticism for political point scoring should be abandoned.”

Nisar revealed that the Prime Minister has been facing heart problems for the past many years which have exacerbated in the past two to three months.

“He had taken time from doctors earlier as well, but he could not attend his appointments. The PM had on my advice agreed to go on a separate visit for medical treatment, and he agreed to that. Full-time bed rest was advised and thus the stopover in Moscow instead of a direct flight.”

“All of us [at the airport this morning] were in agreement that he should return as soon as doctors advised.”

“If the PM wanted an excuse to leave the country, he could have gone to attend the OIC conference in Turkey and gone to London from there,” said Nisar.

“On my advice, he scheduled a separate visit just for medical treatment.”