- Daniyal says Sharif family rejects contents, procedure by JIT
- Abid Sher says PM Nawaz to stay in power, to run govt affairs
The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) on Monday reiterated its stance to face the opposition’s move for the resignation of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif politically.
After the hearing of the Panama Papers case in the Supreme Court, a high-level consultative meeting was held under the chairmanship of the prime minister. During the meeting, the legal team informed the prime minister about the latest situation.
Later on, Prime Minister Nawaz held the separate meeting with Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. During the meeting, they discussed the future strategy of the government against the aggressive approach of some of the opposition parties.
Talking to media persons outside the Supreme Court after the adjournment of the case, PML-N leader MNA Daniyal Aziz said that counsel for Sharif family Khawaja Haris has categorically rejected in the Supreme Court the contents and procedure adopted by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in compiling the report.
The counsel has also requested the court that nothing should be against the law, and accordingly the JIT report should be rejected and the case against the Sharif family be dismissed, he said. He said that nothing happened during today’s hearing.
He said there should be an end to selective justice. The law should not be used only against one family and the legal proceedings should be initiated against all whose names are mentioned in the Panama Papers to ensure justice across the board and fair-play.
He questioned the moral justification of those who were proclaimed offenders and at the same time, had been accusing and abusing the government. “What forces are behind them as nobody takes action against them,” he questioned.
He was of the view that if an action could be taken against an MPA in Balochistan, why not against these people. The cases were registered against them with the Anti-Terrorist Court but no action is being taken.
He said that Imran Khan’s lawyer had admitted tax evasion in Niazi Service while his another lawyer Mansoor Ali Khan also admitted crimes related to foreign funding. “So why the pressure is only on one person,” Daniyal asked.
He said the anti-terrorism court does have the power to implement its order, and why this was not being exercised in the PTI chief’s case. Daniyal said the people who neither have any link with this case nor are petitioners, were present in the court as if they were duty-bound.
He said those talking of moral obligation and seek resignation by the prime minister must keep in mind that they have been declared proclaimed offenders as well as issuing orders to confiscate their property. He said that Naeem Bukhari and Mansoor Ali Khan, the lawyers of Imran Khan, have admitted crimes like money laundering and getting party funding from abroad.
“Therefore, we believe that requirements of justice would be fulfilled and Imran Khan would also be brought to justice.” On the occasion, State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would stay in power and continue running the government affairs.
He said the JIT report carries no weight and it has based its report on certain evidence that is beyond facts. He criticised Sheikh Rasheed’s political career, highlighting his role as Nawaz Sharif’s aide before the regime of military dictator Pervez Musharraf.
“Wrong counselling of such leaders had resulted in 1999 fiasco,” he said. “God willing the apex court will decide the case on merit and not on Imran Khan’s wishes,” he said, adding that despite whatever happened they respect the honourable judges.
