ISLAMABAD – The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) will submit its final report in Panama Paper case to the Special Bench of Supreme Court today (Monday).
Earlier, addressing a joint news conference along with federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Saad Rafique in Islamabad, Khawaja Asif says that all the audio and video recordings of the JIT proceedings into Panama Paper case should be made public for ensuring transparency.
Khawaja Asif said people should come to know what kind of questions were raised and what replies were made.
He said PML-N will not accept the JIT report if the Qatari prince’s letter was not made a part of the investigation.
The Minister said the JIT needs to get the letter of the former Qatari prime minister verified and make it part of the evidence before submitting its final report before the apex court.
Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also expressed reservations on the JIT’s conduct. He said Nawaz Sharif presented himself for accountability before the JIT despite having immunity.
Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq said PML-N, being the biggest political party of the country, feels that efforts are on to snatch its mandate.
Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said despite all conspiracies, PML-N continues moving on the course of development and it defeated opponents in bye-elections as well as in the elections of cantonment board, local bodies, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
In response, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said the Qatari prince is the Sharif family’s witness, which puts the onus of his responding to the JIT on the Sharif family.
The Qatar royal family member had asked the JIT to record his statement at his palace in Doha, which the JIT reportedly refused to do.
Addressing the media in Rawalpindi, opposition leader Sheikh Rasheed said on Sunday he has a feeling that Nawaz Sharif will challenge the JIT in the Supreme Court tomorrow.
He said if the prime minister of the country can appear before the JIT then why can’t the Qatari prince?
Meanwhile, the local administration in Islamabad finalised all arrangements pertaining to Monday’s hearing at the apex court. Authorities have issued a red alert for the federal capital’s Red Zone area.
Additional contingents of police and Rangers will be deployed both inside and outside the Supreme Court premises.
In a last-ditch effort to press the Sharif family’s case, top federal ministers held a press conference Saturday night saying the JIT report would be unacceptable without the statement of Qatari Prince Sheikh Hammad bin Jassim.
