Panamagate probe: PM’s son appears before JIT

Hussain Nawaz has already questioned impartiality of two JIT members


News Desk/Danish Hussain May 28, 2017
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz. EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz on Sunday appeared before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) — tasked with investigating the Sharif family’s offshore properties, to record his statement in the ongoing Panamagate probe.

“I received a notice from the JIT yesterday [Saturday] which asked me to appear within 24 hours,” Hussain told journalists outside the Federal Judicial Academy, Islamabad. “I will present my viewpoint along with my counsel Advocate Saad Hashmi,” he said, adding that he was not given any questionnaire by the JIT.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Hanif Abbasi, Daniyal Aziz and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, a notice was sent to Hussain in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Panamagate case whereby PM Nawaz and his sons, Hasan and Hussain, have been directed to ensure appearance before the JIT as part of the investigations, whenever needed.

In view of a recent directive from the Supreme Court that the JIT should conclude and complete its investigations within the allotted 60-day period, the JIT has been working even on weekends to meet the deadline.

Hussain has already questioned impartiality of two of the six team members.
JIT Interrogators misbehaved with me, says PM’s cousin

A five-page application by Hussain – in which impartiality of two JIT members has been questioned and an appropriate action has been sought from the apex court in the backdrop of the allegations – is pending before the three-judge special bench formed to oversee implementation of the Panamagate vedict.

The three-judge bench will hear Hussain’s application on Monday (tomorrow) and take a decision on it.

Hussain has expressed reservations about Bilal Rasool, a representative of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and Ahmer Aziz, a representative of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

After giving details of his apprehensions about alleged impartiality of the two members, Hussain requested the apex court to “kindly pass appropriate orders in the interest of justice, equity and fair play to ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the case”.

Hussain is the second high-profile individual to appear before the probe body after PM’s cousin Tariq Shafi, who was thoroughly questioned by the JIT.

Two JIT men are politically aligned: Hussain Nawaz

After hours-long questioning by the JIT, Shafi had filed a complaint with JIT head Wajid Zia against alleged misbehaviour of some of the members of the JIT during the interrogation.

Commenting on the situation, PTI chief Imran Khan, in his messages, posted on social media website said, “Not surprising to hear Hussain Sharif reluctant to appear before JIT. His father, NS [Nawaz Sharif], could not play cricket without his own umpires”.

In another message, Imran said, “Nawaz Sharif could not play under neutral umpires. Seems to run in the family: Must have everything in their control, hence reluctance to appear before JIT.”

Earlier, at the beginning of the week, the JIT had sent a questionnaire to Hussain.

COMMENTS (6)

citizen26 | 6 years ago | Reply Not a fan of IK but his tweet has hit the nail on the head
Rambo | 6 years ago | Reply Please punish em. Thank you...
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