The go-slow strategy of the opposition parties to take on the politicians named in Panama Leaks, mainly the family of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has become a test case of Pakistani politics. At the moment, a deadlock persists between the two sides. A 12-member parliamentary committee of ruling and opposition parties has failed to reach a consensus on Terms of Reference (ToR) for a suggested commission to investigate the accused.

The parliamentary committee has met at least eight times in the past five weeks to discuss the ToRs without any result. Opposition parties are insisting on investigations and accountability of the Sharif family while the ruling elite is pushing for accountability from the start with a much wider scope.

Many think the issue has died down and opposition is unnecessarily dragging it for the sake of politics.

Though the prime minister is not directly mentioned in the Panama documents, his name appeared with reference to his children who own offshore companies. Sharif also addressed the nation twice and presented himself and his family for accountability. Later, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) also started a counter campaign blaming many opposition politicians for owning offshore companies too.

Aitzaz Ahsan, senator of Pakistan People’s Party, who is part of the parliamentary committee on ToRs, says, "The prime minister should not be afraid of accountability if he hasn’t done any wrong. It is very obvious that the ruling party is using delaying tactics and does not want to be held accountable. We believe that being the executive head of the state, PM and his family should be probed first followed by all other politicians and persons named in the Panama Papers."

He adds that the opposition has shown maximum flexibility. "But we are left with no other choice but to come out on streets and protest."

Analyst and academic Rasul Bakhsh Rais says, "I don’t think the opposition parties are able to build a momentum and mobilise the masses on the issue. I think the strategy of opposition parties calling for prime minister’s accountability first is wrong. They should have called for across the board accountability."

He also thinks the opposition parties have not been able to build the case properly. "The government has been careful in its strategy and the Panama Papers issue has died a natural death. The Panama Papers issue is not about the prime minister or offshore companies but about corruption and only those will be able to hold accountability across the board who are not corrupt themselves."

According to Panama Papers, PM Sharif’s all three children -- Mariam Nawaz, Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz -- are owners and authorised for transactions with these offshore companies. Papers read that Mariam Nawaz owns British Virgin Islands-based firms Nielsen Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited, incorporated in 1994 and 1993. While, Hussain Nawaz and Mariam Nawaz jointly signed a document dated June 2007 that was part of a series of transactions. The documents also describe Hassan Nawaz as director of Hangon Property Holdings Limited incorporated in the British Virgin Islands in February 2007. The value of these companies is described in millions of dollars. These companies further own four luxurious flats at prime location of London. The ministers of the ruling PML-N have publicly stated that Sharif family owns these flats since 1980s and there have been on record political meetings on these places too.

PM Sharif, after his television addresses, also assured the formation of a top-level judicial commission to look into the accusations levelled in the Panama Papers. But this commission is yet to be made.

Another major opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), has already warned of street agitation and sit-in protests for not starting the PM’s accountability process. PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who represents his party in the committee, has started contacting the leaders of other parties for a joint strategy if government does not start accountability. "We want to unite opposition parties over the issue," he indicates.

The joint opposition has also tabled new six-point terms of reference (ToRs) for special legislation to investigate the revelations made by the Panama Papers as fresh efforts to make the agenda of the committee successful. But the government side did not agree to this. The opposition insists that close relatives like spouses, children and parents of a person whose names have appeared in the Panama Leaks must be investigated.

The other suggested points include seeking of power of attorney from a person as well as his family whose name has appeared in the Panama Papers, empowering the investigators to have access to their offshore bank accounts since no investigation is possible in another country without appropriate power of attorney.

Another point called for revealing the identity of a person from whom the property worth billions was purchased so that it could be ascertained that the seller of the property is not involved in drug trafficking or terror financing.

Nazir Naji, senior journalist and analyst, says, "Both the opposition and the government will continue to drift from the issue because at the moment both are not in a position to handle it fully. Opposition parties are not able to mobilise the masses in this weather and will prefer to drag this while the government obviously does not want the accountability of the prime minister."