Panamagate: FIA forms body to investigate record tampering allegations against SECP

ISLAMABAD - Following the direction of Supreme Court, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has formed a four-member committee to probe the allegations levelled by JIT against  Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) for records tampering.

The team headed by FIA's Anti Corruption Wing Director Maqsoodul Hassan comprising FIA officers Ayaz Mehmood, Tahir Tanveer and Farooq Latif will investigate the matter.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/govt-departments-tempering-with-records-panama-jit-discloses-before-sc/

Earlier,  the JIT revealed before the implementing bench that SECP Chairman Zafarul Haq Hijazi "was instrumental in closing the investigation of a money laundering case launched against Chaudhry Sugar Mills Limited", which is possessed by the Sharif family, in 2016.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/dont-harass-the-panama-jit-supreme-court-orders-dg-fia-to-probe-record-tampering-charges-against-secp-chief/

On June 19, the bench ordered the Federal Investigation Agency director general to probe charges against the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) chairman that he tampered records related to the Sharif family money trail.

Panama 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.