PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD: Days after causing upheaval in the political landscape of the country by his remarks on Mumbai attacks, deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said he would name those responsible for the 2014 sit-in.
When asked whether the two parties had been ‘directed’ to stage the protests, Sharif said everything would be revealed soon.
“Some big characters were behind the scene when Pakistan Terhreek-e-Insaaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek staged their joint sit-in in 2014 and I will reveal their names at an appropriate time,” he said.
Addressing media persons outside the accountability court, the PML-N leader slammed the PTI for “lacking an ideology and constructive politics” and said secrets behind the 2014 protests would be revealed.
“When the time is right, I will reveal who was behind the 2014 incident,” he said. “The PTI as a party waits for the umpire’s finger,” he said, in a clear jibe towards party chief Imran Khan.
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Court proceedings
Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris began cross-examination of Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajid Zia in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills & Hill Metal Establishment reference.
Zia was cross-examined for one and a half hours after which Judge Muhammad Bashir adjourned the hearing till Monday, while giving a questionnaire pertaining to the Avenfield reference to the Sharif family.
During his cross-examination, Zia admitted that whatever money Sharif received from Jeddah’s Hill Metal Establishment (HME) and his son Hussain Nawaz was mentioned in his income tax and wealth tax returns. He however added that there were some anomalies in the documents.
In addition, Zia admitted that the JIT did not attach the complete banking record with its report although it had obtained the full record of all transactions from several private banks.
Sharif’s counsel Haris then posed questions at Zia regarding an inflow chart of HME prepared by the investigation team. He pointed out discrepancies in the inflow chart as some amounts were mentioned in the 2013-14 income tax & wealth statements but not in the inflow chart produced by the JIT.
Furthermore, the court prepared more than 100 questions and handed them over to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecution and associates of defence counsels Haris and Amjad Pervaiz.
The questionnaire contains allegations, statements and evidence found during the inquiry and allows the defendants to put forth their stance in the Avenfield reference. The inquiry document questions the former PM, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son in-law Captain (retd) Mohammad Safar about the Avenfield properties in London.
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Among other things, the court’s questions pertain to money trail, sale proceed of Gulf Steel Mills & Ahli Steel Mills, investment with Qatari royal, liabilities of the Gulf and Ahli mills, offshore companies Nielson and Nescoll and the trust deeds submitted by the former first daughter.
Meanwhile, according to sources, there are also some questions regarding the forensic report of Robert Radley and Quist Solicitor’s Akhtar Riaz Raja.
Interestingly, the court has also enquired about ages of the accused and what public offices they have held.
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