Panamagate: A timeline of events surrounding JIT proceedings
Hussain Nawaz appeared before the JIT for the fifth time today.
(Web Desk) - The Supreme Court on April 20th issued orders to form a Joint Investigation Team in order to probe the Panama Leaks evidence and asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz to appear before the JIT when required.
The JIT that was to be formed to investigate the money trail issued by Nawaz Sharif would include officials from the National Accountability Bureau, Federal Investigation Agency, Inter Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, State Bank of Pakistan and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
The JIT investigation was hit with a controversy even before the JIT was constituted. A news report published in local media had said that a person claiming to be the Supreme Court registrar had contacted the SECP, asking for specific persons to be included in the list of potential JIT members.
The Joint Investigation team was constituted on May 2. The Supreme Court approved the following individuals to conduct the investigation - Additional DG FIA Wajid Zia; Amer Aziz from the State Bank of Pakistan; Executive Director SECP Bilal Rasool; NAB Director Irfan Naeem Mangi; Brigadier Muhammad Nauman Saaed from ISI; Brigadier Kamran Khurshid from the Military Intelligence.
For the purposes of investigation by the Joint Investigation Team, Hussain Nawaz has appeared five times before the JIT while Hassan Nawaz has appeared two times before the JIT. Hussain Nawaz appeared before the JIT for the first time on 28th May, followed by an appearance on 30th May, 1st June, 3rd June and 9th june. Every session lasted for several hours.
After the fourth hearing, a picture leaked of Hussain Nawaz in what was supposedly a room of the Federal Judicial Academy where he was being probed. Following the leak, Hussain Nawaz filed an application in the Supreme Court asking for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the photo leak. Hussain Nawaz had also filed an appeal raising objections against two members of the JIT but the Supreme Court rejected it.
Another controversial issue that plagued the JIT investigation process was PML-N senator Nihal Hashmi s speech on May 28 making threatening remarks against those investigating the premier s sons. Hashmi later submitted his resignation, and was suspended from the party while the Supreme Court took notice of his remarks as they were clearly aimed at the judiciary and the joint investigation team.
On the other hand, Hassan Nawaz appeared twice before the JIT on 2nd June and 8th June. He was questioned for 5-7 hours in his two appearances. Unlike his elder brother, who seemed under pressure and even fell sick during his first appearance at the Federal Judicial Academy, Hassan has always seemed calm and confident while appearing at the academy.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has ordered that the proceedings be completed within the designated time frame of sixty days and that there shall be no delay in the investigation. Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court had expressed satisfaction over the Joint Investigation Team s second interim report.
