War of words intensifies on eve of JIT report

Govt, opposition denounce each other as threats to democracy

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: The war of words between the government and opposition heated up a day before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was set to turn in its fourth and final report on the Panamagate case to the Supreme Court, as both sides labelled the other a ‘threat to democracy’.

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan lambasted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for threatening to reject the JIT report as ruling party ministers accused the opposition of hindering the country’s development.

“PML-N is indirectly conveying it will not accept the Supreme Court’s decision in the Panamagate case,” Imran told reporters outside his Bani Gala residence on Sunday. He was referring to statements by PML-N leaders that their party will not accept the JIT report if it does not include the testimony of Qatari Prince Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al Thani.

“The JIT is not going to decide the case. It will only submit it findings to the Supreme Court. The court will then announce its judgment in light of the team’s findings.” he said.]



“I’m afraid PML-N is planning to attack the Supreme Court, just like they did back in 1997,” Imran warned. “Their [PML-N ministers’] statements point towards such plans.”

The PTI chief added that he would give a call to activists of his party and civil society to protect the top court from a ‘possible ruling party attack’.

Terming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a security risk, he urged the Supreme Court to both direct him to step down and to order placement of his name on the Exit Control List.

Khursheed Shah, meanwhile, in a statement accused Premier Nawaz’s government of creating hurdles before justice.

“PML-N efforts can produce dangerous results for both the country and democracy,” he warned. “Their threatening attitude reveals that they are trying to hide facts from the people.”

Regarding the Qatari prince’s letter, the opposition leader said it had no value. “If this letter is accepted, then every tax evader and money launderer will mock the law with a letter from a prince.”

Pakistan Peoples Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar, in a separate statement, said the PML-N leaders’ statements showed they were hell-bent on rejecting the JIT report whether the Qatari prince appeared before the probe panel or not.

“From the very start the ruling family has sought to run away from the JIT,” he said.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, on the other hand, said the ruling party had great respect for the courts. “PML-N has struggled very hard and rendered great sacrifices for the independence of the judiciary and rule of law in the country,” he said at an event in Sialkot.



He claimed there wasn’t a single case of corruption against the incumbent government. “Our destination is an economically stable and prosperous Pakistan, and we will never compromise on this goal,” the minister added.

Without mentioning PTI, PML-N leader Amir Muqam termed agitation against the ruling party another type of terrorism since it was creating hurdles in development of the country.

“Enemies are hatching conspiracies as India is backing terror attacks in Kurram and Quetta to destabilise the country, while the ones who call themselves Pakistanis are indulged in another type of terrorism … terrorism that creates hurdles in the country’s development,” he said while addressing a PML-N women’s wing convention in Peshawar.

Muqam said the JIT is unwilling to verify Qatari prince’s letters even though the prime minister appeared before it laying aside his suspicions over Whatsapp calls and picture leak of his son Hussain Nawaz.

“Declare it incorrect if found wrong, but the JIT must visit Qatar to verify the Qatari prince’s letters,” he said.

Meanwhile, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said any attack on the prime minister’s credibility was an ‘attack on Pakistan’s development’.

“No one – including former military dictator Pervez Musharraf – had to face as many hearings as the PML-N leadership,” he complained. He warned any attempt to send the ruling party packing will be the end of politics in Pakistan.

“Pakistan has a history of democratically elected governments being disgraced and then sent packing,” Rafique said. “But in the current episode, PML-N will defeat its rival.”