JIT Interrogators misbehaved with me, says PM’s cousin

Tariq Shafi files complaint with JIT head Wajid Zia

ISLAMABAD: A member of the Sharif family has moved a complaint against ‘misbehaviour’ of a few members of the joint investigation team (JIT), which is investigating into the offshore properties of the ruling family in line with the Supreme Court’s April 20 verdict in Panamagate case.

The complaint has been filed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s cousin Tariq Shafi to the JIT’s head Wajid Zia against some of the JIT members, who allegedly misbehaved with him during interrogation.

A copy of the complaint has also been sent to the Supreme Court registrar for perusal of the three-judge special bench, which is overseeing implementation of Panamagate verdict.

Sources told The Express Tribune that Shafi, who is a key witness in the probe, has been interrogated by the six-member JIT. However, during the investigation he was given a hard time by some JIT members.



The complaint was reportedly moved before the special bench’s hearing on Monday. However, no mention of the complaint was made during the hearing.

Rather, the bench asked the JIT members that they must inform the court if any department was not cooperating or dragging its feet, adding that “we know how to implement our order”.

Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, however, observed that so far no one had caused any hindrance.

Sources said the prime minister’s son Hussain was also considering moving a plea raising objections over the methods being employed to investigate. The legal team of the Sharif family is also raising objections over two members of the JIT for some reasons.



The legal team is, however, divided over whether or not to file complaint against JIT members.

One section of the team believes that at this stage filing a complaint or a plea will be a bad idea. Presently, the family is relying on the advice of senior lawyers Khawaja Haris and Salman Aslam Butt.

The legal experts say the accused or witnesses cannot get relaxation during the criminal investigation as the JIT is not bound to act on their wishes.

Meanwhile, sources told The Express Tribune that Salman Aslam Butt will visit Qatar in the first week of June to manage affairs related to the involvement of Qatari Prince Hamad bin Jassim in the case.



Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan’s Embassy in Qatar delivered to Jassim a sealed envelope, possibly bearing the JIT’s questionnaire.

Forwarded through the Foreign Office, the JIT sent the envelope to the prince as during the Panamagate case hearing, the PM’s legal team had presented two letters from the prince in a bid to establish the money trail of the London properties owned by Sharifs.