LAHORE – Provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah termed the decision of six members Joint Investigation Team to summon Maryam Nawaz, against Eastern, Islamic traditions.

Taking a strong exception to the latest summons issued by the JIT to Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Rana Sanaullah stated that the masses consider it “abnormal” to request the presence of any woman for interrogation.

Talking to Samaa News, the legislator cautioned that the JIT tasked to probe offshore assets of ruling Sharif family should uphold reverence and sanctity in its proceedings otherwise it would face consequences.

Throwing weight behind the popular notion in ranks of PML-N that the JIT was being controversial, the minister stated that summoning Maryam Nawaz was the final nail in the coffin of JIT’s controversial functioning.

“For whom are they doing all this?” inquired senior PML-N member in the backdrop of back-to-back summons issued to members of the first family.

Rana Sanaullah stated that the JIT was examining Panama case, but it has never been to the place. Likewise, they were holding an inquiry into the London flats but they never flew off to London.

He said that the members of Joint Investigation Team did not travel to Qatar to grill Qatari prince Hammad Bin Jassam and therefore the validity of the probe was questionable.

“If video link facility for interrogation is available for Qatari prince, why not for Maryam Nawaz?” inquired the PML-N stalwart and added that recording phone calls was not the mandate of JIT and apex court has to take action against it.

Maryam Nawaz Summoned by JIT

The Joint Investigation Team, for the first time in its proceedings issued summons to Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Maryam, whose name echoed during the proceedings of the apex court was asked to appear before the high-profile team on July 5.

Prior to that Hassan Nawaz will appear before the team on July 3, while Hussain Nawaz is due to appear on July 4.

Prime Minister’s cousin Tariq Shafi would also appear before the team on July 2 (tomorrow).

Supreme Court’s Deadline

On June 22, the team submitted its third and second-last fortnight inquiry report to the implementing bench.

While hearing the case, a three-member bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal and comprising Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan had directed the investigation team to file its final report by July 10 as the court did not want to give more time for investigation.

Panama Case probe

The Supreme Court decided to begin investigating the Sharif family in November last year after the main political parties failed to agree on a committee to probe the April 2016 Panama Papers leaks, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan threatened mass protests and to ‘shut down Islamabad’ in protest on November 2.

On April 20, the five-member Supreme Court bench gave its verdict in the case with the judgment split 3-2 in favour of a further probe against the premier’s family wealth. The other two judges had ruled that sufficient evidence was available for the prime minister to be de-seated.

The JIT – formed on May 6 – was given 60 days to complete its probe into the Sharif family’s international financial dealings and submit its report to the Supreme Court’s special implementation bench overseeing its proceedings.

The JIT team is headed by Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director Wajid Zia, and includes members from Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, SECP, State Bank of Pakistan and NAB.