JIT grills Hussain Nawaz for fourth time

PM to take parliamentary party into confidence over JIT strategy shift

ISLAMABAD: The joint investigation team (JIT) tasked with probing the Sharif family’s offshore properties on Saturday completed the first round of investigations from Hussain Nawaz who was grilled for more than 15 hours during his four appearances before the probe team during the last six days.

The elder son of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, after recording his statement on Saturday, said he would come again if the JIT summoned him in the future.

“This is not the first time, and there is nothing new this time around. My family, our children and I have been held accountable several times in the past, and we will continue to offer ourselves for accountability in the future, too, until truth comes before the public and the Supreme Court,” he said.

Hussain’s fourth appearance before the JIT lasted for almost four and a half hours. He reached the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) at around 10.50am and left the venue at around 3.20pm.

After recording his statement, Hussain briefly talked to the media gathering outside the academy.

“I have submitted documentary evidence to support our case, and these proofs are related to the Panamagate case,” Hussain said when asked about the ongoing investigation.

“Mayfair flats are not controversial. We have produced our side of the narrative about the ownership of these flats before the Supreme Court and we stick to this narrative [before the JIT],” Hussain added. However, he did not disclose more details, saying investigations were privileged.



He did not forget to mention his son’s latest tweet – those who were of the view that the Sharif family will evade accountability are remorseful today – in response to a question as to when his father, Nawaz Sharif, would appear before the JIT.

“[The] PM has not been summoned by the JIT,” he said, adding, “The Supreme Court’s judgment binds every person named in the case to appear before the JIT whenever asked for it.”

“The PM always abides by the law and preached it too. He even put his life in danger to safeguard state institutions. History is evident to it,” Hussain said.

He said it was his and his family’s desire that the investigation process should conclude smoothly.

He said the allegations against the Sharif family were based on mere assumptions and till now no evidence had been presented by anyone to prove those allegations.

“Today, we are facing judicial accountability, but in the past we also faced executive accountability,” he said, while referring to investigations carried out by military dictator Pervez Musharraf against the Sharif family after he toppled the government in 1999.

PML-N parliamentary party meeting

Meanwhile, the PML-N leadership would take into confidence party members on the apparent shift in the ruling party’s strategy regarding the JIT probe into the Panamagate -- from confrontation to compliance – at a parliamentary party meeting scheduled for June 7.

In addition, the ruling party’s strategy for the next general election would also be considered during the upcoming meeting convened by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, according to informed circles.

The meeting would be held in Murree — away from media glare — in what comes as a move on the part of the PML-N leadership to keep the huddle a low-key affair given its timing amid unfolding political developments.



Sources in the PML-N told The Express Tribune that the prime minister would discuss the ruling party’s new strategy regarding the JIT after the Supreme Court turned down the petitions of the Sharif family members, including Hussain Nawaz and Tariq Shafi, to change the JIT formation. Following the move, the prime minister has decided not to continue on the collision course with the inquiry panel, it is learnt.

“Our leadership was all aggressive towards the JIT – targeting the inquiry panel with hard-hitting statements and serious accusations — to build psychological pressure and all that, but the SC was not happy.

“The related petitions were turned down and our efforts went in vain. Now, the policy is to not up the ante as far as the JIT is concerned, and switch into a reconciliation mode. The party ranks need to be taken on board about the change in policy,” a well-placed source in the ruling party said while explaining the main motive behind convening the parliamentary party meeting.

Another important issue that would be taken up at the meeting includes discussion on the PML-N’s electoral strategy for the next general election. In addition, the options to counter opposition -- the PTI and the PPP in particular -- would be discussed at the meeting, the sources said.



Talking to The Express Tribune, PML-N chairman and Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq said: “The PML-N parliamentary party keeps meeting periodically to discuss a host of political issues, including those of national importance and internal party matters.

“To assume that any specific set of issues would be taken up for discussion is not right. The parliamentary party is a forum that outlines party’s policies on broader lines on different issues.”

The politician, however, refused to comment whether PML-N’s policy regarding the JIT would be discussed in the meeting. “When the Supreme Court has issued its directives regarding the JIT, there isn’t much for me to say.”

Also, the prime minister has decided to extend full cooperation to the JIT in a bid to dispel the impression that the ruling lot was reluctant to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders.

In this context, if the JIT proceeds to summon the prime minister in person, the PML-N leadership would not seek any legal cover against the decision, unlike what Hussain Nawaz and Tariq Shafi did, it is learnt.



Requesting anonymity, one of the premier’s confidantes, said Sharif’s refusal to appear before the JIT would adversely affect the PML-N’s political graph while raising suspicions among public over the Sharif family’s involvement in the Panamagate.

“Not only that such a move would amount to contempt of the court, it would also allow the opposition to have a joyride at our expense,” he said.

On the other hand, the source said PM’s appearance before the JIT would give him a ‘high moral ground.’

“That a man in his position surrendered himself to accountability and appeared before an inquiry panel would relay a strong message across. Regardless of the outcome of this inquiry, such a move would certainly help us politically,” he said.

When approached, PM’s Adviser Ameer Muqam said the PML-N leadership has already made it clear that it would extend utmost cooperation to the JIT.

“We have reservations over the functioning of the JIT and over personal linkages between some JIT members and leaders of opposition parties. That’s why we moved the court. But we can’t even think of defying the apex court’s orders and would do whatever is in accordance with the law and in line with SC’s directions,” he told The Express Tribune.