JIT probe limited to documents obtained from SC, says Wajid Zia

Defence counsel Khawaja Harris continues cross-examination of Wajid Zia

ISLAMABAD: Wajid Zia – head of the joint investigation team (JIT) that probed into Sharif family’s properties in line with the apex court’s verdict in Panama Papers case – admitted on Monday the probe into the case was confined only to the documents obtained from the Supreme Court and none of the team members verified any piece of paper, despite two members’ visit to Dubai.

The deposed premier Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris pointed out several loopholes in the JIT’s way of investigation by asking a volley of questions from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s star witness against Sharifs during fourth day of cross examination in the Avenfield reference.



Interestingly, the JIT head admitted that two members of the JIT went to Dubai but they did not verify any documents pertaining to establishing of Gulf Steel Mills or Ahli Steel Mills, professional license, land lease, land rent agreement, site plan and work place from Dubai authorities.

To the torrent of questions, Zia admitted: “It was correct that two members of JIT went to Dubai for the purpose of investigation” but they did not make any effort to find out who were the officials of Dubai Court System, Dubai Customs and Central Bank who provided relevant information on the basis of which the Ministry of Justice, Dubai, replied to the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) of the JIT.

“Nor they [two JIT members] themselves checked the record,” he added.

In fact, to the question whether the JIT investigated how the Gulf Steel Mills was established in 1970s, Zia admitted that the JIT’s first MLA, requesting Dubai authorities to provide information in this regard, is still awaiting reply. Also, he accepted that the second MLA’s response does not carry the reference number of the JIT’s letter and date it was sent.

Zia also conceded that the JIT did not investigate who in the UAE searched the record and gave their input to the Ministry of Justice which led to the MLA’s reply. He said the JIT never tried to find that out.

In addition, he said, JIT did not ask for any letter/correspondence between the Ministry of Justice and the competent authorities – Dubai Court System, Customs and Central Bank.



To some questions, Zia said the JIT did not feel necessary to verify the documents, and to some other questions, he said the JIT ‘presumed’ them to be authentic. He reiterated during cross examination that the focus of the JIT was to answer to the questions raised by the SC while hearing Panama papers case.

He admitted that neither Sharif nor any witness said that Sharif participated in the business of Gulf Steel Mills and Ahli Steel Mills nor Sharif or any witness said Sharif received any money pursuant to the sale of Ahli Steel Mills in 1980.

“Nawaz Sharif made a statement before JIT that he visited Dubai only twice and that also only for one of two days after the commencement of Gulf Steel Mills,” Zia accepted it to be a correct statement.

At one point during the cross examination, Haris who appeared to be exhausted by Zia’s volunteered explanations to his questions suggested that Zia should make a few questions of his choice and answer them as he deemed fit. Also, Haris suggested to install a recording device so that it could easily be ascertained who said what in which sequence when there is confusion over a statement.

The court will now resume hearing on April 3 (today).