PML-N leaders criticise NAB, Panamagate JIT, term inquiry ‘lopsided’

ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Rana Sanaullah and Khawaja Saad Rafique deeply criticised the Panamagate Joint Investigation (JIT) and defended Sharif family’s denial from appearing before National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by saying that “there is no use appearing in a lopsided inquiry”, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference in the capital, Rana Sanaullah said that the court itself declared the NAB “dead and buried” but is ordering Sharif family to appear before the same body. He expressed reservation over the court’s decision to appoint a judge to oversee the NAB inquiry against Sharif family.

“Now we are hearing that NAB is working  vigour and vitality. How can a dead and buried institution work with such diligence?” asked Rana Sanaullah.

He demanded every part of this “unjust” probe be made public as justice should not only be done but also seen to be done, adding that fair trial and fair investigation is the right of every citizen.

Sanaullah even took aim at Panamagate JIT head Wajid Zia and said he was sort of a police officer who never did any field work and was limited to his desk and “never even investigated a domestic husband, wife dispute” but worked diligently when the court ordered him to head the JIT.

Saad Rafique, on his turn, said that the Sharif family became a victim of hatred and bias in the Panama case as the “JIT was only headed by Wajid Zia but someone else was controlling it”.

“The whole nation is witness to the fact that we cooperated with the JIT and the court despite having reservations and despite expressing our reservations, did not detach ourselves from the legal process,” said Rafique.

The Railways Minister maintained that his Sharif family cannot be treated unjustly again and again.

He, however, tried to dispel the impression that Sharif family is trying to run from NAB inquiry and explained that PML-N has not accepted the court’s decision in Panama papers case and has filed a review petition while a written reply is being sent to NAB on every summon.