JIT quizzes PM’s cousin Tariq Shafi for second time

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s cousin Tariq Shafi on Sunday appeared before the joint investigation team (JIT) to record his second statement in Panama case here at Federal Judicial Academy (FJA).

Tariq Shafi claimed [in an affidavit submitted to Supreme Court in Panama case] that Mian Sharif [PM’s father] made him a stakeholder in Gulf Steel Mills [in Dubai] in 1974 when he was only 19.

Tariq Shafi told reporters that he was questioned by the investigators about Gulf Steel Mills adding he did not submit ‘any documents with the JIT today’. His second appearance before the JIT lasted for almost three hours. He was made to wait for almost one hour and ten minutes, while he was quizzed for two hours and according to him the investigators behaviour towards him was ‘much better than earlier’.

‘They asked how and when Gulf Steel Mills was founded and sold. I answered whatever they asked me’, Shafi said in his short comment. It is noted that during the hearing of the Panama case, Shafi submitted two affidavits in the Supreme Court [dated Nov 12, 2016 and Jan 20, 2017] confirming receipt of 12 million Dirhams as sale proceeds of the remaining shares of Mian Sharif’s factory in Dubai [Gulf Steel Mills] and delivery of the said amount in cash in installments to Fahad bin Jassim of Qatar, elder brother of Hamad bin Jassim. This money later became the source of funding for acquisition of four Park Lane properties in London, the Supreme Court was told earlier this year.

PML-N leadership had claimed that Shafi was forced by some JIT members to take back two affidavits he had submitted before the Supreme Court in Panamagate case. These affidavits were submitted to show money trail of London properties owned by Sharif family.

Through affidavit, which was part of the concise statement submitted by the PM’s elder son Hussain Nawaz in Panamagate case, Shafi claimed that he deposited 12 million dirhams in cash with the Qatari ruling family on the directions of Nawaz Sharif’s father Mian Sharif.  These 12 million dirhams was obtained through sale of the Gulf Steel Mills in Dubai in 1980.

The ruling family in its statements before the SC has mentioned Shafi as the legal owner in all the official documents, business transactions and agreements since the establishment of the Gulf Steel Mills in 1970s.

Talking to media outside the FJA, Ali claimed that PM Sharif had only been punished for toeing progressive agenda for the countrymen. He said no corruption case was pending against Nawaz Sharif and JIT was only investigating personal business of Sharif family. He also strongly criticised PML-N’s political opponents saying after failing to win people’s mandate the opponents were left with no other option but to hatch conspiracies.

The JIT is scheduled to submit its fourth and final fortnight report with the SC on July 10. PM’s children Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz are scheduled to appear before the JIT on July 3, 4 and 5 respectively. It will be Hassan’s third while Hussain’s sixth appearance before the JIT.

The joint investigation team (JIT) has also summoned Finance Minister Ishaq Dar today (July 3) at 3pm for inquiry of his affidavit. It is noted that The Musharraf government prepared a money laundering reference against PML-N leaders Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif in 2000 on the basis of a statement recorded by one of their trusted lieutenants, Senator Ishaq Dar. Senator Dar’s handwritten statement, given before a magistrate back on April 25, 2000, had alleged that Sharif brothers used the Hudaibiya Paper Mills as cover for money laundering during the late 1990s.

Then, Dar said an amount of $3.725 million in Emirates Bank, $ 8.539 million in Al Faysal Bank and $2.622 million were later transferred in the accounts of the accounts Hudaibya Paper Mills.