PML-N rejects Panama JIT report without Qatari Prince testimony
It was stated that the report would be clearly one-sided without Qatari Princes testimony
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders held a heated press conference on Saturday where they announced to dismiss the report of Joint Investigation Committee (JIT) for Panama case ,which is due on July 10, if the Qatari Prince testimony remained excluded.
It was stated that the JIT report would be clearly one-sided if the testimony of Qatari Prince Hamad Bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani is not included. The ruling party has expressed its objections over the representatives of intelligence agencies. They complained that the FIA representative was to head JIT, but the newspaper report tells otherwise.
PML-N leaders based the report in Daily Jang which claims that the JIT is controlled by intelligence agencies, adding that no clarification or rejection was issued over the report. “We cannot any justice in current circumstances,” they stated.
In the final communication between JIT and Qatari Prince, the latter had refused to visit Pakistan and asked the JIT members to interrogate him within his Palace in Doha. Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb had already hinted this decision on Friday when she said the JIT report would remain incomplete without the statement of Qatari Prince.
‘PM could have taken immunity’
Abbasi argued that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could have taken immunity, but he choose not to, adding that he presented himself for fair accountability by offering full cooperation with the JIT. “Doubts came into being only after the formation of JIT,” he added. He highlighted the ‘controversial’ nature of JIT members while claiming that the there was no evidence of corruption against the premier.
Objection on intelligence agencies ‘presence’ in JIT
On his turn during the media talk in Islamabad, Saad Rafique complained that courts didn’t take any notice when political opponents used the remarks of honourable judges against PML-N. He claimed the ruling party has the most public support. Rafique said the party had concerns over ‘presence’ of intelligence agencies in JIT activities. He highlighted the ‘controversial’ members within Panama JIT and questioned its neutrality.
He demanded respect for the government with public mandate, complaining who gave JIT the permission of tapping phones. “We cannot sense any justice prevailing in current scenario,” he made it clear. He shed light on the deviation of case from the petition.
‘Stock market crashed over PM’s summon’
Ahsan Iqbal said the stock market lost record points when PM Nawaz was summoned by the JIT. He told political opponents that the only way to gain power is through public votes rather than conspiring against ruling authority.
“10MW electricity will be added to national grid by 2018,” he assured while challenging the opponents to even find corruption worth $1 in the PML-N rule. He maintained that the party will not approve JIT report without the testimony of Qatari Prince, and that the questions of JIT during interrogation were irrelevant to petition.
‘Make JIT interrogations public without editing’
Khawaja Asif demanded the authorities to make all videos and audios of activities of JIT public without editing. “People should know the kind of questions asked from the Sharif family,” he stated. Asif joked about PTI Chairman Imran Khan receiving money from his married wife, asking how such miracles happen.
He accused Imran Khan of using Zakat for business. Asif highlighted Nawaz Sharif’s role in restoring the judges, adding that the world was conspiring to stop the nuclear power from becoming economic power. On a question, he said the armed forces and Supreme Court had defined roles in the constitution.
VIDEO: Full press conference of PML-N leaders (July 8, 2017)
