While the inclusion of members from ISI and MI is rather odd as the investigation of Panama Case does not directly match with their departmental rules and expertise, it is even more awkward that a member of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), being the prime civilian intelligence agency, was not included in the JIT. If NAB and FIA could be represented in the JIT, IB should not have been excluded.
Senator Aitzaz Ahsan is quoted to have said, ‘The in-laws of daughter of Maryam Nawaz were closely linked to ISI Director General Lt-Gen. Naveed Mukhtar’, hence implying that the investigation process may be biased one. In an apparent response to allegations of Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, ISPR DG Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor on April 21, 2017 issued a strong worded Tweet that stated, ‘Comments by few regarding head of premier intelligence agency are baseless, misleading and unwarranted. Integrity of armed forces is beyond reproach.’
PILDAT’s analyses the matter:
The inclusion of military-run agencies in the JIT formed to investigate the Panama Case is a sad reflection of the lack of trust in civilian institutions. The successive civilian governments also cannot escape the blame for weakening the trust in various civilian institutions.
In addition, there is a need for clearly defined institutional roles and responsibilities that can be carried out in an effective manner.
It is unfortunate that the government departments such as the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) did not initiate proceedings not just in the case of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family but all those who were named in the Panama Papers case until agitation forced at least some of them to undertake half-hearted actions.
While the tweet by ISPR DG on April 21, 2017, in an apparent reference to Senator Aitzaz Ahsan’s comments, may have been strong-worded, PILDAT believes that in the absence of evidence suggesting that a wrongdoing has been committed, mere relationship of the ISI DG Lt-Gen Naveed Mukhtar with the prime minister’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, does not provide sufficient grounds for apprehensions over the role of the ISI member in the JIT.
This PILDAT is another organization created and corrupted by Nawaz Sharif family. It’s head unfortunately doesn’t carry an enviable reputation. So one could ignore this ridiculous analysis. Bias is so obvious.
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