Pakistan

Panamagate probe: Qatari prince invites JIT members to his residence

Says will provide details regarding his family’s business association with Sharif family

Sohail Chaudhry July 04, 2017

Qatari Prince Hamad bin Jasim bin Jaber al Thani. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Prince of Qatar Hammad bin Jasim said that he would be happy to welcome the Panamagate joint investigation team (JIT) members at his residence and would provide all the relevant details regarding his family’s business association with the Sharif family, sources privy to the matter informed The Express Tribune on Monday.

Regretting not appearing before the JIT at the Pakistan High Commission in Qatar, sources said that the Qatari prince has asked the JIT to respond to his letter in order to decide the next course of action.

Panamagate JIT summons Qatari prince for second time

Earlier on June 22, the JIT had written a letter to the prince to appear before it at the Pakistan High Commission in Qatar and record his statement. It had strictly advised him not to bring his lawyer and accountant with him during the investigation on June 29 or 30, 2017, whichever date suited him.

He had been directed to inform the JIT about suitability of the date before June 26.

The Qatari prince was informed that he would not be given any questionnaire in advance rather he would have to answer the questions directly during the investigation.

Panamagate probe: Govt fails to convince Qatari prince to appear before JIT

A letter available with The Express Tribune revealed that the JIT had used a very strict language and the prince was treated like an accused person in a criminal case.

The JIT had used the word ‘investigation’ to be conducted regarding his letter presented before the Supreme Court (SC) instead of ‘interview’.

It said that all the investigation proceedings would be recorded to ensure accuracy for transcript purposes.

In the past, the SC had allowed the Memogate and Arsalan Iftikhar commissions to use video link and written questionnaires, respectively to obtain answers.

The JIT should have given those choices to the Qatari prince as well to ensure equality in procedure according to the law.

COMMENTS (19)

Jalil Malik | 6 years ago | Reply JIT is doing investigation on corruption. How can they ask hard questions to prince by sitting in his own house. He can send relevant documents to jit in Pakistan through embassy. It is only excuse made by planning and now PLMN trying to exploit it.

ayesha | 6 years ago | Reply "The JIT should have given those choices to the Qatari prince as well to ensure equality in procedure according to the law." Who asked for your opinion Mr Sohail Chaudhry? FYI there is a difference between hard news and an opinion piece.

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azmat | 6 years ago | Reply @Proud Pakistani: He is the main witness and the defense cannot produce him in the court. CASE DISMISSED FOR SHAREEFS

azmat | 6 years ago | Reply @F Khan: hahahahah. He is alleged to have said that he will provide all documentation. The documents can be sent to the JIT in which case there will be no need for him to appear at all. But the question is even if he appears with "documents" and details of "transactions", they will all raise questions over his previous statement in which he has submitted that all the money was paid in cash.

lassi a gogo | 6 years ago | Reply If Saudi considers Qatar a terrorist state now, why should we deal with or believe in anything this prominent representative of that terrorist state has to offer or say ?

Acorn Guts | 6 years ago | Reply Sharif family is least bothered if Qatari is interviewed or not, they are simply using his little tussle with JIT to make a case for lamenting JIT's failure to follow all possible leaks after the decision is announced. If Qatari had anything that could save Sharifs then they would have personally done everything they could to get him to cooperate with JIT.

Lolz | 6 years ago | Reply Qatari prince can come to Pakistan for hunting but not for investigation. Why would he get offended for he is accused to be a facilitator in money laundering.

Proud Pakistani | 6 years ago | Reply it will be a blatant murder of justice if the main character is not questioned by the JIT. unless another judicial murder is decided for which honorable JIT is desperately trying to justify

Muhammad Tahir | 6 years ago | Reply Everything is fake of sharif family qatri will be rejected

Common Pakistani | 6 years ago | Reply Match fixed hai...

PakSal | 6 years ago | Reply He has decided to meddle in the affairs of Pakistan, no need to offer him a different status. Either he appears at Pak High Commission or he doesn't, JIT must not go to his 'palace' ... as simple as that.

citizen26 | 6 years ago | Reply None of the previous JIT are equal to this JIT. None of the previous JIT had money laundering t the center of their investigations

F Khan | 6 years ago | Reply Interestingly the JIT is not interested to meet the most important person in this case.In today's time a skype meeting could have done the job.

Salman | 6 years ago | Reply Qatari has nothing to offer, if he had it would already have been provided

Ali | 6 years ago | Reply Now it is almost obligatory for the JIT to visit Qatar. If you want to talk to Nawaz Sharif's enemies then also talk to his friends and be impartial in your investigation.

SimpleArgument | 6 years ago | Reply Treating a foreign national like a criminal is offending. He is not bound to even talk to the JIT. It seems JIT itself is trying to complicate the investigation.

ASIYA | 6 years ago | Reply This is a court of law where there is no separate law for so called Prince. If he is innocent, he should appear before jit not the other way around.

Wiseguy | 6 years ago | Reply I am surprised that the word Investigation has been labeled as very harsh, may his majesty is afraid about what if all the lies are unearthed during this " Investigation "

Sham | 6 years ago | Reply He has given letter on hear say and is part of sharif business empire. It is his part to come to jit. Jit is not his slave. He can viait pakistan ans do hunting but not help nawaz family is beyond thinking.

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