ISLAMABAD: The registrar office on Thursday received nominations for the Joint Investigation Committee (JIT) ordered by the Supreme Court to probe into the Panama verdict.
Names of nominated officers from the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) were submitted to the SC’s registrar office.
The nominated names will be presented before the Panama bench for approval.
Earlier on Wednesday, two FIA Additional Director General (ADGs) went on a leave, following which the ADG Wajid Zia is expected to head the JIT. According to sources, FIA ADG Captain (retired) Ahmed Lateef and ADG Doctor Shafeeq cited medical reasons to take leave from office.
Zia is the only ADG in the department after his counterparts took leave from office.
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a Joint Investigation Team to conduct a probe into funds used by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s children to buy properties in London through offshore businesses.
Citing the ‘indifference’ and ‘unwillingness’ of the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau in its verdict on the Panama leaks case, a five-member Supreme Court bench said there were still questions “which go to the heart of the matter and need to be answered”.
“A thorough investigation in this behalf is required,” said Justice Asif Saeed Khosa as he read out the court’s decision ordering a JIT to submit its report in 60 days.
According to the verdict, the six-member team will comprise the following officers:
- FIA officer
A senior Officer of the Federal Investigation Agency, who will not be below the rank of Additional Director General. Having firsthand experience of investigation of white collar crime, the FIA officer will head the investigation team.
- NAB representative
Despite expressing their lack of trust in the National Accountability Bureau chairman to investigate the matter, a representative of NAB will also be part of the six-member JIT.
- SECP officer
A nominee of the Security & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). Having investigative and enforcement powers, the SECP is responsible for regulation and supervision of the corporate sector, capital market, insurance companies, and non-banking finance companies.
Here, the SECP will play his part in the investigation team as he would be familiar with issues of money laundering and white collar crimes.
- State Bank of Pakistan nominee
As the probe involves a lot of financial transactions, an official of the country’s central bank will also be on the investigation team.
- ISI officer
The Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, will also be represented by on the team by a seasoned officer nominated by ISI Director-General Lt-Gen Naveed Mukhtar.
- MI officer
The Military Intelligence will also be part of the team, with a seasoned officer nominated by its director-general.
