‘JIT is a relief package for PM in Panamagate’

Former premier says PPP always respected courts and their decisions

LAHORE: Former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif was provided ‘relief’ in the form of constitution of the
JIT over Panamagate scandal.

He expressed these views while talking to media persons after attending his case proceeding in a NAB court. The former PM is facing a case of illegally recruiting more than 400 employees in Gujranwala Electric Power Company [GEPCO].

He said JIT was nothing but “a relief package” constituted for the investigating the Panamagate scam. He said PPP has always respected courts that was why he stood before the NAB court to attend proceedings.



He further said he was summoned over the charges of recruiting guards, peons and linemen but those facing serious allegations were enjoying power.

On Saturday National Accountability Bureau [NAB] judge directed the bureau to submit reply in an application filed by former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf claiming he be discharged from the reference as no incriminatory material is available against him.

The former PM appeared before the court but the NAB could not submit reply over the said application upon which the NAB official sought more time.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2017.