- PML-N activists will reach FJA at their ‘own-will’
- In its preparations, CDA revamps roads, fills potholes, cuts grass, cleans the entire pathway
Setting a precedent, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will appear before joint investigation team (JIT) today to record his statement. PM was summoned by the JIT head Wajid Zia on June 8 to appear before the team on June 15 at 11am (tomorrow).
Despite the directions by the prime minister, the local chapter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has planned to gather at Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) in their personal capacity.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed all the party leaders to discourage workers to reach the FJA, and till time, the party leadership is sticking to their decision, however, I cannot confirm my own presence at FJA today,” said Capital Administration and Development Division (CA&DD) Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary.
He said, “If someone [either a party leader or a worker] wants to come and greet his mentor in chief, then what should the party do?” adding that every person has his own will.
Despite that, sources said that PML-N party leaders and workers came from Jehlum, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and other parts of the country. The local chapter of PML-N in Rawalpindi and Islamabad would also gather in front of the JIT office.
Expected activists of PML-N to reach FJA on Thursday include premier’s political secretary Asif Kirmani, MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Senator Chaudhry Tanvir, MNA Maiza Hameed, Danial Aziz, Hanif Abbasi and Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz.
According to sources, UC-chairmen of the capital will also accompany mayor Anser Aziz.
However, when contacted, mayor Aziz said, “We’re directed not to reach the investigation venue, as it was decided by the prime minister to avoid the unwanted mess,” he said.
Besides this, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), keeping in view the protocol of PM Nawaz Sharif, has revamped the road, filled the potholes and cut the grass as well as cleaning the entire pathway for PM’s appearance before JIT.
Islamabad traffic police have also devised a traffic plan, according to which, Garder flyover road, Al-Shifa road, and Mir Zafar Ullah Jamali road toward FJA will close, due to which many emergency patients would also suffer. However, police have also issued an alternative route: Abdul Qayyum road and Beaconhouse road.
Strict security will be ensured on the arrival of premier at FJA. As many as 2,500 police personnel will perform their duties around FJA in three layers, in addition to traffic and special branch personnel.
Moreover, FJA building will be secured by security division and Rangers.
It is important to mention here that I-8 new interchange will remain open for public.
Till date, Hussain Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz, PM’s cousin Tariq Shafi, PM’s close friend Javed Kayani, President SBP Saeed Ahmad and some other key acquainted persons have appeared before JIT.
A six-member JIT was constituted by the Supreme Court and was assigned to complete the probe of the offshore investments of Sharif family within 60 days.
It is noted that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar assured the National Assembly on Wednesday that the government was not obstructing the ongoing Panama Papers investigation.
JIT head Wajid Zia had submitted the application to the Supreme Court earlier this week stating that some government departments were being uncooperative and, in some instances, records had also been tampered with, which is hampering the JIT’s work.
The law ministry, the National Accountability Bureau, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the Intelligence Bureau are some departments whose conduct the JIT had complained about.
JIT SUMMONS SHEHBAZ SHARIF ON JUNE 17:
The joint investigation team (JIT) has also summoned Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alleging that the government machinery is being misused to hamper its probe into the ruling family’s offshore assets.
The Punjab CM was director of Hudabiya Paper Mills (HPM) in 1999. He was the one who had made the settlement with London-based Al-Towfeek Company the same year.
According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) documents, Shehbaz and his son Hamza were accused in the 17-year-old HPM scam.
Around 17 years ago, the NAB had claimed that the Sharif family had received over Rs1 billion ‘through illegal and fraudulent means’ and that they were liable to be tried under anti-corruption laws.
JIT summons Capt (retd) Safdar on June 24
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has issued summons to Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar—husband of PM’s daughter Maryam Nawaz—to appear on Saturday, June 24, before the probe body carrying out an investigation into the Panama Leaks case, sources told Pakistan Today.
Sources in the ruling party confirmed that Safdar has received the summons of JIT and was directed to bring the relevant documents.
On May 11, JIT has sought the asset declarations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his son-in-law Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from 2013-2016 within three days. Subsequently, ECP has provided the required record to JIT.