Probe against Sharifs: Marriyum accuses JIT of mala fide intent

Expresses reservations over language used in letter sent to Qatari prince

ISLAMABAD: The Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday expressed serious reservations over the ‘inappropriate language’ used in a letter sent to the Qatari Prince Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani by the joint investigation team (JIT) in connection with the Panamagate probe.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Aurangzeb said the JIT team should have used appropriate language while dispatching a letter to the prince, adding that under the law, the JIT members could not investigate him.

“They [JIT] should only verify his statement [made in the letters submitted before the apex court during Panamagate case hearing] that his father used to do business with the late Mian Sharif [the prime minister’s father]. That’s all” she said.



The Sharif family had presented two letters from the Qatari prince before the Supreme Court to justify the purchase of their controversial properties in London.

Calling into question the intention of the probe panel, Aurangzeb asked why the JIT wrote to Jasim at the end of the probe.  “Why JIT has approached him in the end? Why he has been ignored so far? No doubt, he is the most important person in the case to answer for Sharif family,” she said.

Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Aurangzeb said if the intention is to record the Qatari prince’s statement then it can be done in any part of the world.



"If people like [former military ruler] Musharraf who is responsible for breaking the Constitution and law are allowed to get their statement recorded from their homes, then what's the harm in recording the statement of Hamad bin Jasim from his residence," she asked.

The minister said the JIT was giving lame excuses for not recording Jasim’s statement.

“There is a mala fide intent as the JIT intimidates and gives excuses but does not go to Qatar. They (JIT members) know that Jasim's statement would effectively give clean chit to the Sharif family," she said.

The JIT, which is all set to complete its probe by Monday, has not yet recorded the statement of Qatari prince, whose version of the story could be crucial to deciding the fate of long-drawn probe.