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

Nisar read out five names of former Supreme Court justices 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.

Sharif arrived in London on Wednesday for medical treatment.

Nisar revealed that the premier 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 premier had on my advice agreed to go on a separate visit for medical treatment, and he agreed to that.”