ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif left Federal Judicial Academy after around three-hour long interrogation conducted by the Joint Investigating Team (JIT), mandated by Supreme Court to probe assets of Sharif family, today (Thursday).
Talking to media outside FJA, Nawaz Sharif said that he and his family offered themselves for accountability. He added that the present process of accountability has been extended to period beyond his birth.
He added, “I have presented my stance before the JIT. All sources of my assets were already submitted to relevant authorities”.
“I appeared before the investigation team as we are equally accountable to the institutions, the PM said, adding that today was a milestone for the rule of law.
PM Nawaz Sharif said that soon after Panama Leaks, he had offered himself for accountability. He stressed, “The people of Pakistan need to understand that whatever is happening today has nothing to do with any corruption or embezzlement of the national exchequer, but it is the personal and private business of our family, that is being dragged”. All conspiracies against him and his family would foil, he said.
He added that he held office of prime minister thrice and remained chief minister of Punjab and passed several development projects in country, but there are no charges of embezzlement in national kitty on him.
He warned that there will JIT of 200 million people going to be held next year when they [people] will select those who have worked for the development of the country.
Soon after the prime minister left JIT secretariat, Maryam Nawaz posted a tweet calling her father “lionhearted”.
صرف شیر ہی نہیں بلکہ شیر دل بھی….. pic.twitter.com/UtxFuHJoeC
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) June 15, 2017
The Prime Minister reached Federal Judicial Academy along with Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz in a three-vehicle convoy without any protocol. Later, the PM entered into FJA building alone.
According to state radio, the Prime Minister had asked the party leaders and activists not to gather outside the Federal Judicial Academy (F) when he will made his appearance before the investigation team.
Security
Security of the judicial academy has been beefed up following the arrival of sitting prime minister, as 2662 security officials of police, Rangers and intelligence agencies have been deployed to ensure security. Islamabad traffic police has issued directives for citizens regarding the alternative routes.
Journalists and media persons have been given a special entrance and an enclosure at the FJA, with strict orders to not breach the security parameter.
High-Level Meeting
Before leaving for FJA, the PM headed a high-level meeting which was attended by the Punjab Chief Minister. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan were also in attendance.
Dar briefed the prime minister over the documents he will be taking along with him.
Shehbaz Sharif
The JIT has also summoned Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif on June 17 for interrogation regarding Panama case. The CM has been directed to bring all relevant records at the time of appearance.
Captain (r) Safdar
The Panama investigation team has also summoned PM Nawaz’s son-in-law, Capt. (retd) Safdar, to appear before it on June 24 (Saturday) at 11: AM.
PM’s Sons
Hussain Nawaz, elder son of PM Nawaz Sharif has appeared before the JIT five times, while Hassan Nawaz has made two appearances before the team.
Panama Verdict
Representatives from Intra Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and National Accountability Bureau are part of the team headed by Wajid Zia of Federal Investigation Agency.
In its judgement, the Supreme Court had also outlined the scope of the proposed JIT, which would probe how the Gulf Steel Mills in UAE came into being, what led to its sale, what happened to its liabilities, where did its sale proceeds end up, how did they reach Jeddah, Qatar and the UK, whether Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz in view of their ages at the time had the means to possess and purchase the flats, and whether the sudden appearance of the letters of Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani of the Qatar was a myth or a reality.
The court also asked how bearer shares translated into the four upscale flats in London, who was the real and beneficial owner of Nielsen Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited, how did Hill Metal Establishment come into existence, where did the money for Flagship Investment Limited and other companies set up or taken over by Hassan Nawaz and where did the working capital for such companies come from and where do the huge sums running into millions gifted by Hussain Nawaz to the prime minister drop in from, Dawn News reported.
JIT
FIA Additional Director Wajid Zia is heading the investigation team comprising SBP officer Amer Aziz, SECP Executive Director Bilal Rasool, Balochistan NAB DG Irfan Naeem Mangi, intelligence officials retired Brig Nauman Saeed and Brig Kamran Khurshid.
