JIT grills Hussain again for three hours

PM’s son says he has submitted all documents, answered all questions but will appear again if summoned

ISLAMABAD: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on Tuesday grilled the prime minister’s son Hussain Nawaz for almost three hours as part of investigation to establish the money trail for the purchase of luxury flats in an upscale neighbourhood of London.

The six-member JIT was formed in line with the April 20 verdict of the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case.

 

It was Hussain’s second appearance before the JIT. On Sunday, upon his first appearance before the team, Hussain – the beneficial owner of the London flats – had not come up with the required documents, according to leaked summons of the JIT.

Hussain had raised objections to two members of the JIT - 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) – and questioned their impartiality.



However, a three-judge special bench of the top court overseeing the implementation of the April 20 verdict threw out Hussian’s objections on Monday. Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, the lead judge on the bench, observed that the court would not remove any JIT member on the basis of ‘mere suspicions’.

On Monday, the premier’s son recorded his statement before the JIT for about two and a half hours.

When Hussain arrived at the Federal Judicial Academy, the JIT headquarters, around 11am the premises was bustling with media persons and PML-N’s lawmakers and loyalists, who welcomed the premier’s son with party slogans.

PML-N’s MPs, including Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Maiza Hameed, Danial Aziz, Hanif Abbasi and Senator Chaudhry Tanvir, as well as Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar and PM’s Political Secretary Asif Kirmani were present at the academy for Hussain’s ‘moral support’.

“I appeared before the JIT despite fasting and will appear again if summoned,” Hussain told media persons who swarmed his car right after he came out of the main gate of the academy. Hussain said he had submitted all the required documents and answered all the questions asked by the JIT, “Though I was made to wait for two hours.”



Asked about the attitude of the two JIT members he had raised objections against, he said: “Leave this issue here for now as I can approach the Supreme Court again if I there is anything objectionable.”

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) President Saeed Ahmad also appeared before the JIT and recorded his statement. Sources confirmed that Ahmad appeared before the JIT – headed by Wajid Zia of the FIA – prior to Hussain Nawaz.

The JIT started recording Ahmad’ statement around 11:10 am and continued till 1:30pm. Later Hussain appeared before the team and recorded his statement till 4:30pm.

Arrival of an ambulance

Two-and-a-half hours after the JIT started its proceedings, an ambulance arrived at the JIT headquarters, making reporters and television camera crew rush to the scene and quiz the doctor sitting inside.

A doctor, who introduced himself as Omar, told the curious journalists that they were directed to reach the complex. Later, it transpired that the ambulance was called after the NBP president started feeling unwell during interrogation.