ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said that he has presented himself for accountability before the Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT) as the premier in his own government for supremacy of the rule of law, ARY News reported.
Talking to media after three hours long grilling session with the JIT outside Federal Judiciary Academy, the premier said he has recorded his statement and presented his stance on the Panamagate scandal during the interrogation session.
“All detailed documents pertaining to the family assets have been submitted to the JIT, [however] these documents were also previously submitted to concerned authorities and institutions,” the premier said.
He said that financial evidences of Sharif family’s three generations, spanning over five decades and before his birth, have been submitted.
“Is there any family in the country who has been repeatedly subjected to similar kind of merciless accountability and presented details of generations,” he queried while stating that the present process of accountability has been extended to period beyond his birth.
Lamenting on stern accountability process, the prime minister said that his family has repeatedly gone through accountability despite no allegation of corruption had even been proved. “Such accountability has also conducted during Musharaf’s regime, even our houses were sealed,” he added.
Expressing confidence, he said that outcome of the underway inquiry would not be different than previous ones as he and his family have done nothing wrong.
A large number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and supporters were present at the JIT secretariat in solidarity with the premier.
Special security arrangements have been made at the judicial academy with 2500 security personnel deployed outside and roads leading to the academy premises. Roads leading to it having been cordoned off to prevent any untoward incident.
Earlier on June 11, the JIT had issued notice to the PM, asking him to appear before it on June 15 to record his statement with regard to the Panama Papers allegations. The premier was directed to bring all the relevant documents, records and other material, according to the notice.
Following the JIT’s summons to PM Nawaz for his appearance, posters depicting him, his daughter Mariam Nawaz, and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were displayed along the route leading to the academy by ruling party leaders to show support for their leader.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had also been served subpoena to appear before the JIT on June 24 along with all the documents of Hudaibiya Paper Mills.
It is worth mentioning here that the JIT has been given 60 days to probe the Sharif family’s properties and the money trail behind it as part of the verdict announced in the Panama Papers case. The Supreme Court reviews progress of the investigation after very fortnight.
Nawaz Sharif’s younger son Hassan Nawaz has appeared two times before the JIT, while the elder son Hussain Nawaz made his fifth appearance on Friday.
Sources said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Nawaz’s daughter Maryam would also appear before the JIT.
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