ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Sunday rejected the possibility of heading a parliamentary commission constituted to probe revelations made in the Panama Papers earlier this month.

Responding to Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah's assertion that the senate chairman was the most suitable person to head the commission, Rabbani said he was “not available for consideration amongst other probables” and called for speculation on the matter to cease.

“In my capacity as Chairman Senate, I am the custodian of the rights of the Senate in particular and Parliament in general. Such a position may have the potential of creating a conflict of interest,” he said.

I lack expertise in “the field of investigation of white collar crime”, he said, adding that the Panama leaks inquiry involves “complicated questions of facts, laws and cross-jurisdictions which require specialisation in the said fields”.

Speaking to Dawn, Khursheed Shah had earlier said he considered Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani as the most suitable person to head a parliamentary commission, as opposed to the proposed judicial commission, to investigate the Panama leaks.

Shah said the Pakistan Peoples Party had reservations over Justice Osmany, whose name was making the rounds as the one to head the judicial commission to probe the Panama leaks, since his wife is affiliated with the PML-N.