Poetic.Injustice said:

Of the three names from the FIA(Federal Investigation Agency) forwarded to the supreme court, whose member is supposed to head the Joint Investigation Team, two have already gone on 'medical leave'. So in essence, the government has forwarded just one name to the supreme court to be chosen.



https://www.geo.tv/latest/139570-FIA-forwards-three-names-to-SC-for-Panama-JIT

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ISLAMABAD: The PML-N is dissatisfied with the performance of one of its counsels, Salman Akram Raja, who had conceded before the Supreme Court's five-judge larger bench – hearing Panamagate case – that there were ‘gaps' in the money trail through which Sharifs acquired their London flats.

Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, who endorsed the majority judgment in his additional note, observed that no explanation for payment of the remaining liability of Gulf Steel Mills had been offered.

”The learned counsel for respondent Nos 7 and 8 [Salman Akram Raja] frankly conceded that there are ‘gaps' in this behalf, which could not be explained," he pointed out in his note.

Justice Ijaz ul Ahsen also observed that Raja ‘candidly admitted' that there were holes and gaps in the stance adopted by the respondents which had neither been filled nor explained by supplying acceptable explanations, evidences and documentations.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the party leadership and Sharif family members believe that the celebrated counsel did not submit most crucial documents before the larger bench during the hearing.

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ISLAMABAD - The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has forwarded three names to the Supreme Court to pick out one of them for the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in Panama Leaks case.Interestingly, of the three recommended officers, two are facing internal inquiries, The Nation has learnt.

Well placed sources told The Nation that the NAB on Wednesday forwarded names of Hasnian Ahmed, a grade-21 officer, working as Director General Headquarters; Numan Aslam, a grade-20 officer, working as Director NAB Gilgit-Baltistan, and Rizwan Khan, a grade-19 officer, working as Director NAB Rawalpindi divison.

The sources said that a special committee constituted by the apex court last month under the chair of Secretary Establishment Division has issued show-cause notices to Hasnain Ahmed and Numan Aslam asking them to present themselves before the committee in cases related to illegal appointments in the NAB.

On the order of the apex court, the NAB has already relieved some officials who were illegally inducted in the anti-graft body in the past.

The sources further claimed that Hasnain Ahmed is also close to the Punjab chief minister and also served as DG NAB Lahore. According to the sources, the Punjab chief minister had also recommended his name for the slot of DG NAB Rawalpindi in the past.

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Poetic.Injustice said:

After FIA, NAB(National Accountability Bureau) forwards name of two officials who are under investigation themselves.



http://nation.com.pk/national/28-Apr-2017/nab-forwards-names-of-two-controversial-officials

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ISLAMABAD:
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday formed a special cell to liaise with the six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which will probe the Sharif family's alleged corruption in the Panama Papers case.

The special cell will be headed by the top court's Additional Registrar Muhammad Ali, sources told The Express Tribune.

Sources further said there's been a delay in the formation of the JIT as the apex court has expressed concern over the name of a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official recommended for inclusion in the six-member investigation team.

The sources, however, said the apex court may notify the JIT later in the day. ”The court is also reviewing names of officials sent by Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence."

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Adviser to the prime minister on Legal Affairs Barrister Zafarullah Khan on Tuesday has submitted a plea in Supreme Court (SC) Lahore registry to review the Panama Leaks case verdict.

The plaintiff has requested the court to constitute judicial commission instead of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) as history shows that the cases dealt under JIT were not successful therefore, he urged the authorities to investigate the matter through judicial commission.

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ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday summoned governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and chairman Securities and Exchange Commission Pakistan (SECP) over a list of nominees submitted for a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing into the Panamagate case.

A three-judge special bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan summoned SBP governor and SECP chairman along with a list of all grade 18 and above officials on Friday.

”We want people with diamond integrity", Justice Ejaz observed. The special bench said all findings must be open and transparent.

”We will look at the list and will approve the names for the JIT," Justice Azmat observed, adding that the bench will ensure all proceedings are conducted in an impartial and transparent manner.

Meanwhile Justice Ijazul Ahsen observed the court will not accept any excuse or delay in the proceedings. The hearing has been adjourned until Friday.

A three-judge special bench has been constituted to implement the Supreme Court's April 20 judgment ordering a JIT to probe the offshore properties of the Sharif family.

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The bench in its order has asked the JIT to commence and complete the investigation and submit its final report in terms of the April 20 verdict, wherein it was stated that the JIT will complete its investigation within 60 days from the date of formation. The Supreme Court has already framed eight questions which are supposed to be probed by the JIT.

The bench has asked the JIT to submit fortnightly progress reports as stipulated in its April 20 verdict. The case will be taken up on May 22. The Supreme Court has already directed the prime minister and his sons to appear before the JIT.

On the other hand, the Sharif family is considering hiring senior lawyer Khawaja Haris, who has vast experience in white-collar crime cases.

Later, the bench, while issuing the order, observed that the secretariat of the JIT shall be housed in the building of the Federal Judicial Academy where the members shall be provided adequate office accommodation and related facilities. The requisite approval has been obtained from the chief justice of Pakistan.

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IT was said in a matter-of-fact way and caused few ripples. Indeed, both the speaker and the audience seem to have accepted it as an inalterable reality of the state here. Speaking at the inauguration of a metro bus track between Islamabad and a new airport in Fatehjang catering to the capital region, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made some very frank observations. It is worth reproducing in full Mr Sharif's remarks on corruption within the state apparatus. ”There is so much corruption in the country that if we get involved in probing them all our time will be consumed in the investigations and we will not be able to deliver. There are so many scandals and frauds that they cannot even be listed. There are a number of projects which could not be completed in 20 years due to which their cost increased manifold," the prime minister said.

Mr Sharif is both completely right and utterly wrong. In acknowledging the scope of corruption, the prime minister's assessment is in line with that of most observers of the state here. Corruption is rampant and there are no parts of the state which have remained immune from this scourge. Where the prime minister is wrong is in his understanding of the government's role in fighting it. Mr Sharif appears to believe that simply repeating over and over again that his government is different, that it does not indulge in dishonest dealings and that delivering projects on time or ahead of schedule is enough to dispel the perception of rampant corruption. But that ignores a fundamental responsibility of the government: to expose and punish corruption, and demonstrate through deeds, not words, that this menace is being seriously addressed.

One remarkable fact alone disproves the prime minister's claim that his government takes fighting corruption seriously: there has not been a single case of a leading politician, whether in government or outside, who has been transparently investigated and fairly prosecuted for corruption. Indeed, stretching back through the decade-old transition to democracy, there is not one instance that can be cited where anyone of significance in the political class has been successfully prosecuted and a conviction upheld on appeal. With past corruption unpunished, there is no deterrence. Equally troubling is the PML-N government's lack of transparency when it comes to handing out contracts and the reluctance to strengthen rules. In fact, government officials have routinely complained that onerous government rules make completing infrastructure and development projects on time difficult — an implicit acknowledgement that rules continue to be bent. Surely, the government must know that it has both a responsibility to deliver on its promises and to do so in a transparent, rules-based and corruption-free manner.

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ISLAMABAD:
A joint investigation team (JIT) tasked with probing the financial interests of the Sharif family in line with the April 20 Supreme Court verdict in the Panamagate case has summoned complete record of the 17-year-old Hudaibya Paper Mills scam from the National Accountability Bureau.

Sources in NAB told The Express Tribune that the six-member JIT has asked the bureau to provide complete record of the Hudaibya Paper Mills case. Legal experts believe examining the record could prove to be damaging for the ruling family.

Seventeen years ago, NAB had claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family received over Rs1 billion ”through illegal and fraudulent means" and that they were liable to be tried under anti-corruption laws, reveal documents submitted by the accountability watchdog before the Supreme Court on Monday.

The 2000 NAB proceedings came to the fore when the bureau's prosecutor general, Waqas Qadeer Dar, submitted two references — related to the Hudaibya Paper Mills scam and ‘illegal' construction of the Sharif family's Raiwind estate — before the apex court.

In 2014, the Lahore High Court quashed the Hudaibya Paper Mills reference against the Sharif family and NAB did not challenge the LHC decision in the Supreme Court.

According to the NAB documents – a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam, father Mian Muhammad Sharif, brothers Shehbaz Sharif and Abbas Sharif, Abbas' wife Sabiha, Nawaz's son Hussain and Shahbaz's son Hamza, had been accused of receiving ‘ill-gotten money' in the case.

”All accused persons in collusion and with the connivance of each other appear to have committed acts of corruption and corrupt practices as defined under Section 9 read with Section 10 of the NAB Ordinance," NAB's former chairman Lt Gen Khalid Maqbool had told an accountability court.

It is interesting to note that NAB had filed two references in the Hudaibya Paper Mills case. Incumbent Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was nominated as an accused in the initial reference. But NAB in its final reference excluded his name after he recorded a confessional statement.

”There was an unexplained investment of Rs642.743 million appearing in books of the mill as share deposit money. The same belonged to the directors/shareholders and beneficial owners of the company, which they had fraudulently amassed under the garb of foreign equity investment," said the final reference.

It said the company in 1999 settled its loan with the London-based Al Towfeek Company for Investment Funds by making a payment of $8.7 million and the source of this payment also appeared to be doubtful.

”It appears from the evidence that in order to launder and conceal their ill-gotten wealth, both the Sharif brothers appeared to have fraudulently opened fictitious foreign currency accounts in the names of various individuals with the active connivance of some of their close associates and employees.

”The amounts that have been deposited in the said accounts stand unexplained and appear to be beyond the known source of income of the accused individuals," it said.

NAB in its final reference submitted that fraudulent accounts and deposits were used by the accused persons as collateral to obtain loans from various financial institutions.

Same deposits were released, encashed and proceeds were used to adjust the financial facilities availed by various companies owned by the accused persons.

NAB had also submitted documents of another reference before the Supreme Court about alleged illegal construction of the Raiwind estate, wherein the prime minister and his parents had been nominated as accused.

The reference stated that the Federal Investigation Agency had probed the illegal construction of houses at Raiwind and it was found that an area measuring 401 kanals was illegally acquired by the prime minister and his mother. This land had been used for the construction of palatial mansions and other ancillary buildings.

The total income of the accused persons (Sharif family) during 1992-2000 if added appeared to be Rs41.190 million but the total investment made by the accused persons for the construction of the buildings amounted to an estimated Rs247.357million.

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Joint Investigation Team, constituted by Supreme Court to probe Panama Leaks case, has started reviewing asset details of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
According to the documents submitted by Election Commission of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif has no property abroad but he took Rs 20 crore from Hussain Nawaz in 2015 in the form of dollars and euros.
The cost of the premier's Jati Umra building was shown as Rs 40 lakh in the documents while he had declared as many as seven bank accounts under his name.
During the meeting headed by Federal Investigation Agency's Additional Director-General Wajid Zia, JIT that also includes State Bank of Pakistan's Amer Aziz, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan's Bilal Rasool, Inter-Services Intelligence's Brig. Nauman Saeed, Military Intelligence's Brig. Kamran Khursheed and Director of National Accountability Bureau Irfan Mangi has started process of inspecting the authenticity of the provided information.

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ISLAMABAD – The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that was formed to probe the Panama Papers case has prepared a questionnaire to send to Al-Thani family to determine the real ownership of London flats said to be owned by the Sharif family.

According to media reports, a detailed questionnaire would be dispatched to the Qatari royal family next week. The six-member JIT has started consultations with the Foreign Office given the possibility of two members of the JIT visiting Doha for the purpose.

”We are finalising a few questions for Al-Thani family which could help us to know the facts about London property. Even two members of JIT can visit them [family] at Doha if they agree upon," a senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told Geo News.

Questions are being drafted in the light of the Supreme Court questions regarding whether sudden appearance of the letters of Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani is a myth or reality, and how bearer shares crystallised into the flats, the officials added.

The JIT will also send a questionnaire to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's cousin Tariq Shafi.

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ISLAMABAD: JIT framed by Supreme Court to investigate into Panama leaks case has decided to seek help from foreign experts for scrutiny and checking of off shore accounts and assets in respect of Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and his children.

JIT constituted under additional DG FIA Wajid Zia met here. The record sent by election commission of Pakistan has been received by JIT.

No agreements of information sharing exist between Pakistan and several other countries including UK, therefore, JIT is facing difficulties in collecting information at government level.

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ISLAMABAD:- The security of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing Panama Leaks case has been beefed-up after a demand came-up from the few members of JIT. According to sources, now the Rangers personnel have also been deployed to back up already deployed police contingent. Moreover, a decision to tighten the security was made after a demand had come up from few members of JIT seeking Rangers security. According to Police Department, the police personnel were already providing security to JIT members, however, after the revised decision police and Rangers personnel both are providing round the clock security to JIT members.–Online

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ISLAMABAD: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted in compliance with the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Panama Papers case would concentrate more on uncovering new facts than on reinvestigating the available record, sources said.

The sources, however, said it was unlikely for the JIT to complete the task in the allo­tted period of two months, and rather it would need “several months” to do the job.

They said the JIT would try to get hold of verified documents of the London apartments owned by the family of the prime minister as well as certified details of the offshore companies used to buy them.

The team would try to get these documents through diplomatic channels and for the purpose would send letters to relevant ministries and departments.

The JIT would request the country’s missions abroad to get the requisite documents attested by foreign ministries of the countries concerned and then send them over to it.

The team of investigators also decided that the two letters of Qatari prince Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani about the London properties would be verified, the sources said.

However, the entire exercise was unlikely to be completed within the stipulated period of two months, the sources said.

“If the JIT decides to investigate all the allegations levelled in connection with the properties, then it will need several months to complete the probe,” said a senior officer who has led many high-profile investigations.

In his opinion if the JIT decided to find facts about all the questions raised by the apex court it would need at least three months to complete the task.

According to him, the difference between finding the appropriate facts and investigating something was that the latter was considered more comprehensive as it was carried out under the criminal procedure code (CrPC) and could be used in the trial court as valid evidence.

However, in its order of May 5 the Supreme Court empowered the JIT to invoke provisions of the CrPC 1898, National Accountability Ordinance 1999 and Federal Investigation Agency Act 1975 to summon the prime minister, his sons, ministers or any other person required.

The sources said that in order to verify the information contained in the available record, the JIT might call some witnesses involved in the Hudabiya mills case.

The team might also summon the magistrate who recorded the confessional statement of Ishaq Dar to verify it. Mr Dar was an accused in the corruption reference pertaining to the Hudabiya Paper Mills Limited (HPML) that was instituted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) soon after the then army chief General Pervez Musharraf had toppled the government of Nawaz Sharif.

Later, Mr Dar became an approver and submitted an application to the NAB chairman on April 20, 2000 and appealed for a pardon in the case.

In his statement Mr Dar said: “...The detailed statement of facts, circumstances and events etc leading to accumulation of Rs642 million in the accounts of HPML is enclosed herewith for your kind perusal and consideration.”

However, after re-emergence of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on the national scene, Mr Dar backtracked from his statement.

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After three weeks of discussions, the Sharif family is still indecisive whether or not to file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s April 20 judgment in the Panamagate case.

They will not be able to do so after May 20. Top legal experts consulted by the family advised them not to challenge the verdict by the five-judge larger bench of the apex court, fearing further complications.

Sources told The Express Tribune that most legal experts believe that the Sharif family could experience more legal complications, including the disqualification of the prime minister. Sources said that Khawaja Haris, who is assisting the family before the Joint Investigation Team [JIT], had also advised them to exercise caution in this regard and seek legal opinion from other experts. Makhdoom Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja and Shahid Hamid, who represented the Sharif family in Panamagate case, recommended them not to contest the apex court’s decision. Currently, Salman Akram Raja, who represented the PM’s sons, is aboard. One member of the legal team had even opposed the very idea of approaching the apex court for expunging certain remarks by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa. It is learnt that the Sharif family was focusing on JIT so that they could be exonerated. Former Additional Attorney-General Tariq Mahmood Khokhar believes that the minority judges’ remarks “cannot realistically be expected to be expunged”.

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The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed by the Supreme Court to probe the allegations against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family will seek input of the implementation bench on two crucial matters – including the important question of how to summon the prime minister.

The Supreme Court had announced a three-judge bench to implement its judgement in the Panama Papers case. The bench consists of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan.

The JIT also wants the implementation bench to approve the detailed questionnaire to be sent to various key stakeholders of the prime minister’s family.

Sources privy to the working of the JIT said: “The team does not want to visit the PM House to question the prime minister, as it will attract a lot of ire from the opposition and may attract accusations of partisan attitude.”

“On the other hand, the option is to issue a notice to the prime minister. Such a notice is normally issued under CrPC 160 which means that the prime minister is being considered as an accused,” they added.

“This is a situation that again is to be avoided as it will give the opposition a lot of ammunition to fire at the prime minister.”

In this regard, the JIT met the SC registrar on Tuesday earlier this week to discuss the matter and work out a solution to the issue.

“So far they have not reached any conclusion; hence, they will seek the directions of the bench,” the sources said.

The JIT is empowered to summon the prime minister, his sons and if required others like Finance Minister Ishaq Dar or even Prime Minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The JIT has also decided to call Qatari Prince Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani to question him about the letter that was presented on his behalf during the Panamagate hearing in the court.

Pakistan’s embassy in Qatar will be approached to deliver a request from the JIT to the prince, asking him to travel to Pakistan and appear before the JIT.

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council on Thursday adjourned a matter about the maintainability of a complaint against National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry.
The SJC was supposed to consider whether the reference filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was maintainable before the forum in terms of Article 209 of the constitution read with section 6(b) (1) of National Accountability Ordinance 1999.
The council was also scheduled to hear the case against one of the judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which prolonged for hours due to which the matter could not be taken up, sources told Daily Times.

The PTI requested the council to remove Chaudhry from the slot keeping as his impartiality was in question on the grounds of top court’s April 20 ruling over Panama Case, wherein the court had observed that the chairman appeared to be indifferent and even unwilling to perform his part.
The PTI had contended that it was one of the major reasons that a majority of the judges of the bench ruled that such response from the head of the top anti-graft body had constrained them to look elsewhere to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the matter.

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According to details, a three-member of the top court headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal is hearing the case.

The sealed report was in two parts. The judges reviewed the JIT report in the court room.

Justice Ejaz remarked that the case has to be conclude the case in 60 days. He also said that the court cannot give additional time.

“We are not showing our lack of confidence in the report,” he said.

In the hearing, Counsel of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry pleaded the court to provide the copy of the JIT report on Panama Case. The bench turned down his request.

Justice Ejaz, addressing Chaudhry, said that the law does not allow them to do so. He added that interference will not be allowed in this matter.

“This is a very serious and sensitive matter,” Justice Ejaz-ul-Hassan stated.

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ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s cousin Mian Muhammad Tariq Shafi has approached the Supreme Court (SC) against the “misbehaviour” of the joint investigation team (JIT) members probing into the Panama Papers case.

Shafi, who was interrogated by the JIT, has filed a petition in the apex court against the ill-treatment” he was subjected to.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the prime minister’s sons were also considering moving a plea in the court to raise objections over the methods being employed to investigate them.

Previously, sources privy to the working of the JIT said the team did not want to visit the Prime Minister’s House to question Sharif as that could attract the opposition’s ire and accusations of partiality.

They added that the JIT had the option to issue a notice to the prime minister. But such a notice, which is normally issued under the CrPC 160, means that the prime minister is being considered an accused.

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Aureon said:

At least somebody is taking Panama corruption decently seriously.
The road to removing the PM for corruption is always spiky.
Godspeed to Pakistan, and thank you OP for keeping us updated.

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ISLAMABAD: As the Joint Investigation Team on the Panama case is geared up to collect evidence against the prime minister and his children, the ruling Sharifs are all out to play cat and mouse game with the investigators.

To get the JIT on the back foot, already objections have been raised by the Sharifs not
only on some members of the Joint Investigation Team but also on its working. On Tuesday, the objections over the JIT came from the PM’s son, Husain Nawaz, and his cousin, Tariq Shafi. Today, the prime minister’s spokesman, Dr Musaddaq Malik, showed his reservations on the working of the JIT. Dr Malik said that the JIT’s working was not in line with the law of the land.

This situation is upsetting for the JIT, whose two members have been named as biased by the Sharifs. Sources said that following these objections already made public, the two officers -- Amir Aziz of SBP and Bilal Rasool of SECP -- are disturbed over this situation.

In the past, the Sharif family had opted to forgo its defence over the maintainability of the petitions filed against them in the Panama case before the apex court. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as well as his party leaders, had also announced that they would present all documents and details about their wealth, businesses and properties,

However before the JIT, the Sharifs and their representatives now intend to restrict the probe within the parameters of law and the Constitution. It means that the concessions, immunities and defence available to any defendant/accused as per the law of the land, would be availed by the Sharifs. Such a stance on the part of the Sharifs will make the probe difficult for the JIT.

It is said that the strategy, to be adopted by the Sharifs in regard to the JIT, is being decided by their lawyers. However, the government’s legal minds say that under the law, neither the sons of the prime minister could be asked about their foreign businesses for being non-residents nor the business dealings of the late Mian Sharif, father of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, could be reopened and questioned.

In this situation, it is said, the Sharifs will share only those documents which suit their case. If summoned, the prime minister and his sons would appear before the JIT but their response would be calculated and to the point. They won’t be forthcoming before the JIT.

Legally speaking, it is explained by a government’s legal mind, the Sharifs' wealth, including Saudi-Dubai mills and London flats and the offshore companies, have never been in the name of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. It is said that it was deliberately done to save Nawaz Sharif from controversies relating to the Sharifs’ wealth and businesses.

For the last few days, the government, as a strategy, is bringing pressure on the JIT. On Monday last, PML-N MNA Talat Chaudhry expressed reservations about the proceedings of the JIT and said that the prime minister will exercise all his rights which he had voluntarily withdrawn from the Supreme Court's proceedings.

“We hold the right to exercise the constitutional rights which are given to every Pakistani citizen. We hope that the Supreme Court's JIT will not apply different laws for Nawaz Sharif. We didn’t take immunity before nor now,” he said, adding, “Hassan and Hussain Nawaz should be given the rights which are enjoyed by any non-resident Pakistani.”

A day later, Husain Nawaz approached the apex court with his reservations about the JIT. Consequently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday admitted for hearing his petition raising objection against two JIT members -- Amir Aziz of SBP and Bilal Rasool of SECP. A special bench of the Supreme Court will hear the petition on May 29.

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ISLAMABAD: Hussain Nawaz, son of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has requested the top court to issue appropriate orders regarding his apprehensions about the impartiality of two members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), tasked to probe the Sharif family's offshore assets.

Hussain had submitted a five-page application to the Supreme Court's registrar on May 20, giving certain instances of the alleged political inclinations and bias of the two members of the JIT.The application read, ”The undersign[ed] requests that the facts narrated in the application may kindly be brought to the notice of the bench constituted for the implementation of the verdict [April 20, 2017] passed in Constitution Petition No 29 of 2016 for the gracious consideration and passing of appropriate orders by the bench in terms of the prayer."

Having reservations about the induction of Bilal Rasool — a representative from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) — as member of the JIT, Hussain said in his application that Rasool is the real nephew of Mian Muhammad Azhar, who alongside his immediate family members, is an ardent supporter of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).



Rasool is vocal against the present government and has been pro-PTI even though he's a government servant, he added.
Hussain also attached the details of Rasool's Facebook chat. He said when Rasool was inducted as a member of the JIT, his wife, who is also pro-PTI, removed all her posts from the social media accounts.”This act of hers, in fact, raised alarms in the mind of the undersigned, as her removal of posts from her social media account indicates her anxiety to conceal her loyalty, devotion and unremitting support for the PTI," stated the application.

Likewise, Ahmer Aziz, a representative of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), was also part of a National Accountability Bureau investigation that had been carried out in respect of Hudabya Paper Mills during Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf's regime.

Hussain's application stated, ”Aziz was CFO of Al Baraka Islamic Bank before joining SBP in 1997, which was an associated organisation of Al Towfeek Company for Investment Funds which also had a commercial dispute with Hudabya Paper Mills since 1994. It is evident that Aziz is not an impartial member of the JIT nor can he be expected to conduct himself impartially during the JIT proceedings."












Hussain said in the application that it is a fact that Aziz betrayed his inner prejudice and grievance during the interrogation of Tariq Shafi, PM's cousin, on May 16. He threatened Shafi to withdraw his affidavit of the facts before the five-judge larger bench in the Panamagate case or face penal consequences.

Needless to say that such threats and intimations have raised further apprehensions regarding the impartiality of this member of the JIT, said Hussain. A formal complaint has already been lodged by Shafi with the JIT chairman.Hussain requested the apex court to ”kindly pass appropriate orders in the interest of justice, equity and fair play to ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the case".

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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz on Sunday visited the National Judicial Academy to appear before a Supreme Court-appointed joint investigation team (JIT) investigating his family's business dealings abroad, DawnNews reported.

Hussain Nawaz said before his hearing that he was going to report to the investigation team along with his lawyer and did not wish to discuss the case with media.

He said he had been given 24 hours to appear before the JIT and claimed he had not received any questionnaire from the investigating team before he received the summons.

Hussain will also be appearing before the Supreme Court tomorrow to voice his concerns about two members of the JIT.

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bwakh said:

This is why these JITs are a bad idea

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Poetic.Injustice said:

After my initial skepticism, I think they're doing a great job and are in line to complete investigations by the 60 day time limit.

How the supreme court entertains the frivolous petition entered by Hussain Nawaz tomorrow is the big question mark. They're only using it as a time delaying and political tactic.

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Ushay said:

So what will happen after the 60 day limit (also what date does that fall on), do they have a verdict after this? I t feels like they will snake their way out of this yet again.

Being a British Pakistani, this entire case intrigues me greatly. Thanks for the coverage and updates.

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Govt's pressure tactics on Investigators

Typical old tactics are in work again to escape from justice in Panama Paper scandal. Familiar old tricks to scuttle the investigation process are in action which is to make independent investigators controversial and disputed figures by propagating their links with political parties. And thus build up an intense pressure on them to compel them to go soft on Sharif family in the ongoing investigation and particularly during the course of series of interrogations and cross-examinations which members of the ruling family would undergo in coming days and weeks. Therefore, they are pointing fingers at Amer Aziz, (State Bank) and Bilal Rasool ( Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan).

The main charge-sheeting against Amer Aziz is that he was part of the investigation team against Sharif family during General Pervez Musharraf's military regime on money laundering charges while allegations against Bilal are that he is politically aligned with the Opposition parties.

I can recall my active days of reporting with a local English daily a decade ago when I used to meet Bilal Rasool in my capacity as a journalist. Son of late Dr Gulam Rasool, the former chief economist Bilal is an honest and professional person who has been one of the key driving force in the legislation against the menace of money laundering and manipulations in stock exchange business.

The investigation team is not going to pass judgement against Sharif family but it would collect evidence on the basis of which the three-member bench of the Supreme Court would hand down a final ruling on the fate of Prime Minister.
What is Fear of Sharif Family?

What has greatly alarmed the ruling family are hours-long interrogations and cross examinations of Tariq Shafi, the cousin of the Prime Minister on his dubious role in illegally transferring money abroad from Pakistan over the course of decades.

What doesn't bode well for Sharif family is that during the course of cross-examination by all members of Joint Investigation Team comprising officials from FIA, NAB, SECP, State Bank and military run secret services, Tariq Shafi has reportedly spilled beans about his suspected role in money laundering on the behalf of Sharif family.

Next in line for cross-examinations and investigation are Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself and his son Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz. The possibility of including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in investigation, can not be ruled out if investigators get sufficient clues from their ongoing probes and cross-examinations which may collaborate with Dar's 2000's confessional affidavit about his role in illegal transfer of money on the behalf of Sharif family from Pakistan to overseas destinations to set up off-shore companies.

Hussain Nawaz is likely to be interrogated on how his grandfather late Muhammad Sharif single-handedly inherited all the business to him in the Middle East and what was the source of earning with which off-shore companies were setup since the entire previous legal defense line of the Sharif family to prove the legitimacy of the sources of income has already been rejected by five-member bench of the top court in its last month's ruling. So is likely to be probed Prime Minister himself about the sources of his incomes, his tax returns and his receiving of money from his son as a gift through banking channels which the circumstantial evidence suggest has been a pet method by the ruling elite to legalize part of the money they originally send abroad through illegal means.

Obviously the fear of an independent cross examinations and interrogations, is driving the fleet of Ministers and members of the ruling family to launch a sinister campaign against the investigators to bring them under pressure or create an unpleasant situation for them to quit their task which involves a national cause on how state institutions are going to deal with an endemic systematic menace of corruption deeply ingrained in the political fabric of Pakistan.

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Hussain Nawaz, son of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has testified in front of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) today, reported Waqt News.

He recorded his statement in front of the team.

According to reports, JIT asked him about the questionnaire. Upon which he replied that he did not receive any.

"I came here in emergency because when notice was sent, I was in London hence could not bring any documents with me," he told JIT.

JIT was established by Supreme Court to further probe Panama Leaks scandal.

According to details, Hussain Nawaz along his legal team reached Judicial Academy in Islamabad.

"I will present my stance in front of JIT," he told media outside the academy.

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ISLAMABAD:
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted in the backdrop of the Panamagate probe on Sunday refused to allow Hussain Nawaz’s counsel to assist him in the investigation.

Earlier today, Hussain appeared before the team, tasked with investigating the Sharif family’s offshore properties, to record his statement in the case.

Sources told The Express Tribune that Saad Hashmi advocate accompanied Hussain Nawaz during his appearance. According to the team members, Hashmi could only be allowed to assist his client if allowed by the Supreme Court. Hussain then appeared alone before the JIT in a separate room.

It is learnt that Khawaja Haris is the lead counsel assisting the Sharif family in the investigation. He will appear on Hussain Nawaz’ behalf before the three-judge special bench on Monday, which will take up Hussain plea against two JIT members.

Meanwhile, it is learnt the JIT has started probing Rs1.2 billion Hudabiya Paper Mills scam of money laundering against Sharif family. The team has summoned incumbent CEO National Bank Saeed Ahmad for questioning on Saturday.

According to Dar, a foreign currency account of Saeed Ahmad, former State Bank deputy governor and current president of the National Bank of Pakistan, was used to deposit huge funds to obtain direct and indirect credit lines.

Legal experts say the JIT now seems to be moving in the realm of Hudabiya scam in view of the fact that Ahmad was summoned to record his statement.

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Poetic.Injustice said:

After my initial skepticism, I think they're doing a great job and are in line to complete investigations by the 60 day time limit.

How the supreme court entertains the frivolous petition entered by Hussain Nawaz tomorrow is the big question mark. They're only using it as a time delaying and political tactic.

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Poetic.Injustice said:

JIT refuses to allow Hussain Nawaz's counsel to assist him during investigation. They have also summoned Saeed Ahmad to appear in front of the JIT which is very important as he was mentioned as a person who assisted in money laundering according to Ishaq Dar's written confessional statement in 2000.



https://tribune.com.pk/story/1421565/jit-refuses-allow-hussain-nawazs-counsel-assist-investigation/

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Rejecting Hussain’s plea, the top court asked why the Sharif family questioned the presence of two members in the JIT who have expertise in investigating white-collar crimes.

The three-judge bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, however, asked the JIT to give due respect to all the persons being summoned by them for investigation.

Justice Afzal remarked that if these people could not probe the case, then ‘angels’ would come to investigate it. “We will not remove, eliminate or change of any member of the JIT. But, we [will] direct them to act independently and fairly,” he said.

Justice Azmat Saeed said members of the Sharif family members were being called for interrogation, “not for a tea party.”

He asked to throw Qatari Prince Hamad Bin Jassim’s letter (which was produced by the Sharif family to establish a money trail for their London properties) out of the window if he does not come to verify his stance.

Meanwhile, the bench issued a last warning to the incumbent president National Bank of Pakistan to appear before the JIT, saying otherwise the law would take its course.

Earlier in the day, Hussain had moved a plea in the apex court, requesting to allow him to get assistance of his counsel during Panamagate case investigation by the inquiry team.

The move came a day after Hussain, who appeared before the JIT tasked to investigate the Sharif family’s offshore firms and properties, was not allowed assistance from his counsel during the probe.

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ISLAMABAD:
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on Tuesday grilled the prime minister’s son Hussain Nawaz for almost three hours as part of investigation to establish the money trail for the purchase of luxury flats in an upscale neighbourhood of London.

The six-member JIT was formed in line with the April 20 verdict of the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case.



It was Hussain’s second appearance before the JIT. On Sunday, upon his first appearance before the team, Hussain – the beneficial owner of the London flats – had not come up with the required documents, according to leaked summons of the JIT.

On Monday, the premier’s son recorded his statement before the JIT for about two and a half hours.

When Hussain arrived at the Federal Judicial Academy, the JIT headquarters, around 11am the premises was bustling with media persons and PML-N’s lawmakers and loyalists, who welcomed the premier’s son with party slogans.

PML-N’s MPs, including Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Maiza Hameed, Danial Aziz, Hanif Abbasi and Senator Chaudhry Tanvir, as well as Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar and PM’s Political Secretary Asif Kirmani were present at the academy for Hussain’s ‘moral support’.

“I appeared before the JIT despite fasting and will appear again if summoned,” Hussain told media persons who swarmed his car right after he came out of the main gate of the academy. Hussain said he had submitted all the required documents and answered all the questions asked by the JIT, “Though I was made to wait for two hours.”

Arrival of an ambulance

Two-and-a-half hours after the JIT started its proceedings, an ambulance arrived at the JIT headquarters, making reporters and television camera crew rush to the scene and quiz the doctor sitting inside.

A doctor, who introduced himself as Omar, told the curious journalists that they were directed to reach the complex. Later, it transpired that the ambulance was called after the NBP president started feeling unwell during interrogation.

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Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and Senator Nehal Hashmi stated that people who are investigating Sharif family, party workers will ”investigate" them.

While addressing a public gathering, Hashmi said that people who are investigating and who have investigated Nawaz Sharif and his family must remember that they will retire one day.

”Remember, you are in service now but you will retire one day, we will make it hard for you and your family to live in Pakistan," he said.

Apparently referring to JIT members and Supreme Court judges, the senator said that these people are ”irritating' Nawaz Sharif, people of Pakistan will avenge it.

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The chief justice has summoned Nehal Hashmi in the court on Thursday to appear in person. A three member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal will hear the matter.

Hashmi appears to be in hot waters after issuing open threats to the Joint Investigation Team probing the family of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the Panama Papers case.

Hashmi was earlier suspended from the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and has been asked to tender his resignation from the Senate.

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ISLAMABAD – Elder son of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz has been once again summoned before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), his younger brother Hasan Nawaz will also appear probing the money trail of flats owned by the ruling family in UK.

This will be Hussain Nawaz's third straight appearance before the JIT in less than seven days.

On Sunday, Hussain Nawaz was grilled for three hours by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) comprising financial experts, investigators and representatives from intelligence agencies.

The Sharif family says that flats were originally purchased by a Qatar-based firm and later transferred to Hussain.

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The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday, after a particularly fiery exchange with the attorney general (AG), decided to open a case against PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi.

Issuing Hashmi a show-cause notice for maligning the judiciary and summoning him again on June 5, the court appointed AG Ashtar Ausaf as prosecutor in the case and ordered him to compile relevant evidence in connection with Hashmi's recent outburst against judiciary.

The chief justice had on Wednesday taken suo motu notice of a video of Hashmi railing against "those investigating" the prime minister's family and threatening them with "consequences".

Justice Saqib Nisar had summoned the senator to appear before the special bench overseeing the implementation of the Panama Papers verdict.

"Are you aware of what is going on around you?" the AG, who was present for the hearing, was asked by the bench.

Hashmi's video had stirred up a nationwide controversy after it went 'viral' on social media. In the video, the senator had warned that those conducting the investigation would be "taken to task".

"It seems that the government's self-proclaimed spokespersons let no opportunity for maligning the courts slip by," Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked.

"It is not our custom to bring our children into our fights," Justice Sheikh Azmat chimed in, referring to the senator's threats. "Mr Attorney General, what kind of people involve children in their fights?" he asked.

"The cowardly kind," offered AG Ashtar Ausaf.

"No, not cowards — it is terrorists and the mafia who do such things," responded Justice Azmat.

"Congratulations Mr Attorney General: it seems that your government has joined the Sicilian Mafia," he added wryly.

"We have faced military dictatorships, but even they did not dare threaten our children," Justice Afzal said to the AG. "Our children are being threatened under your government," he observed.

"You stayed quiet for two days after Hashmi's speech and then sprung into action [once it made headlines] fearing the Supreme Court's retribution," he added.

"We constituted the joint investigation team (JIT) and we are not afraid of any type of consequences," Justice Ejaz Afzal said.

"We were the ones who issued instructions to the Supreme Court registrar," he said, responding to a widely-circulated rumour that the heads of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and the State Bank were 'pressured' by a caller — who identified himself as the Supreme Court registrar — into submitting the names of two JIT members who have repeatedly been accused of bias by the ruling Sharif family.

"We know who's capable and who can deliver results," he added, observing that some things were being blown out of proportion to present a misleading view of the process.

"Your government has been creating problems for us," he warned, slamming the "misleading campaign" being run in connection with the JIT.

"Strict action will be taken against whoever mocks the judiciary," he added.

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In their worst nightmares the Sharifs could not have dreamt of what is happening to them now: the repeated questioning of Hussain Nawaz, the summons to Hasan Nawaz, the extended interrogation of the Sharif cousin, Tariq Shafi, the questioning of the National Bank Chairman, Saeed Ahmed, said to be close to the royal family---that’s how you get appointed to high places in the Islamic Republic.

Tariq Shafi has complained of harsh treatment at the hands of the Joint Investigation Team set up by the Supreme Court to look into the Panama allegations against the Sharifs. The Supreme Court’s observation, when the matter came before it, was apt: that Tariq Shafi had been called for questioning, not for a tea party.

From whichever angle one looks at it, the net around the Sharifs is tightening. I never thought that matters would come to this. The ruling party is worried. You can tell this from the angry tone of its cheerleaders who gather at the Federal Judicial Academy where this investigation is being conducted.

Nihal Hashmi may have overstepped the mark in his threatening remarks about the members of the JIT---saying that those who were making life difficult for Nawaz Sharif would have their lives made difficult by the people of Pakistan---but what he said reflects the true sentiments of the leading lights of the ruling party. He only blurted out what many around him inwardly feel.

This is a party in power but a party now also in mortal danger. Sharif acolytes like to think there is a sinister conspiracy afoot against their leadership but what is actually happening is the past catching up with them…finally. They have escaped so much, brushed aside so many obstacles. But this Panama business is sticking to them and despite their best efforts they have not been able to shake it off. Conspiracies in Pakistan usually arise from within. But this is a bolt from the blue, coming from afar and in a manner that scarce anyone in Pakistan could have imagined.

Everyone in Pakistan---in politics, business and the media---knew that the Sharifs had property in London. After all, Nawaz Sharif never made a secret of where he stayed during his frequent trips to London. He resided and held court in the same flats which are now the subject of investigation in this case. During his years of Musharraf-induced exile any number of journalists would have met him there.

The same flats were the subject of stories and exposes---indeed, titillating write-ups--- in the London press. After the Musharraf coup the younger son was interviewed by Tim Sebastian of the BBC and he was questioned about the provenance of the flats. It’s quite a funny interview with Hasan under persistent questioning finally saying that he’s just a student and living in this rather posh flat “on a rent basis” and all he knows is that the money for the rent comes regularly from Pakistan.

The same properties figured in a case brought by Al Towfeek Investment Fund in the London High Court against the Sharifs in 1999. The Sharifs had taken a loan from the Fund and then, being the smart businessmen they have always been, refused to pay it back. The ensuing litigation led to a London High Court ruling that if the loan was not paid back the Hyde Park flats which were known to be in the possession of the Sharifs would be attached. That is when the Sharifs saw discretion to be the better part of the valour and arranged for the repayment of the loan (through Saudi benefactors, names unknown).

There was no mention of any Qatari connection regarding ownership of the flats back then. In the London High Court Qatar does not figure at all---it is just the Sharifs and the flats and the unpaid loan from Al Towfeek. The brainwave regarding Qatar has come only now, after all these years.

Come to think of it, to expect that the lordships hearing the Panama case would swallow or give any credence to these figments of Qatari imagination amounts really to insulting the intelligence of their lordships. Who in his right mind would take the two letters seriously? And here the Sharif family and its lawyers were resting on the hope that they had only to present them in court and their lordships would fall over themselves and exclaim that they had seen the light…that all was now clear and the honourable Sharifs, unfairly maligned, were innocent, their fair names tarnished by this unseemly scandal.

Nor were the mighty Sharifs all that wrong. As already noted, they had escaped so much in their long political journey. Cases and allegations which would have destroyed other politicians they had safely navigated through the help of favourable judicial benches. The PPP leadership, then consisting of the late Benazir Bhutto and her colourful husband, seldom found relief from the courts.
The Sharifs, born under a lucky star, seldom came across unfriendly benches.

Until now, that is. For the first time they have encountered independent judges and independent-minded investigators and they don’t know what to make of this experience. Before the Supreme Court they changed their teams of lawyers thrice, which was a measure of their new-found difficulties. Nothing seemed to suffice, no brilliant lawyer was found to be adequate. And what could the best lawyers perform when the only trick left to them was to brandish the Qatari letters which when they became public knowledge were enough to provoke laughter across the land.

The Lahore theatre world is known for its humour. If an enterprising producer constructs a play around the Qatari letters bright chances are that it will be an instant success.

This is not conspiracy. This is Providence, the mills of God, the implacable workings of Fate. When Nawaz Sharif faced persecution at Gen Musharraf’s hands there was sympathy for him. In those circumstances when Pakistan was ruled by a military dictator the impossible came about and Nawaz Sharif, the protégé of a previous military dictator, became a symbol and champion of democracy.

Look at the wheel coming full circle. Nawaz Sharif now is not the hunted or the persecuted. No rider on horseback has deposed him. He is in power, as third-time prime minister of Pakistan, and yet the wheels of justice are moving towards him and despite the trappings of high office it lies not in his power to stop this remorseless advance.

Time was when a power-drunk PML-N was not above assaulting the Supreme Court and putting a chief justice to flight. This actually happened and is not a figure of speech. Today the PML-N leadership can only seethe from within and mutter dark thoughts. The PML-N is in power but it does not have the same power it had in 1998 when the apex court was stormed. The balance of power within the country has shifted.

Panama is a place that most Pakistanis would not be able to place on the map. The broad oceans separate it from Pakistan. Yet winds wafting from it have caused an earthquake here. And the ground is still trembling and we don’t know where all this will end.

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