Public rhetoric is like whistling in the dark
By setting up the JIT the SC had given another opportunity to the Sharif family to vindicate their position. The Sharifs as well as Ishaq Dar were uncooperative and failed to benefit from the opportunity. They rejected the JIT report calling it unreliable and misleading. When SC resumed hearing of Panama case on Monday it made it known that it is not bound to follow or implement the JIT report while it might make use of some of the evidence collected. After holding five consecutive hearings the three member SC bench has reserved its judgment.
The entire case revolves around the mysterious source of the Sharif family’s fabulous assets. The Sharif’s were required to present the money trail that led them to acquire the Park Lane flats in London. The PTI’s counsel maintained on the basis of evidence in the JIT report that Mian Shafi’s testimony regarding the money trail was false. Despite the court’s insistence the respondents failed to produce any documentary evidence. The PM’s counsel maintained that details of all assets and the sources through which they were acquired were provided to the JIT. He also argued that an individual cannot be held accountable for the properties and assets that are in the name of his wife and children. The court however does not seem to agree with the argument when the head of the family happens to be the PM.
Nawaz Sharif meanwhile continues to address public meetings. While opening the Lowari tunnel he once again assured the audience that he was innocent and that the ongoing investigation was in fact aimed at sullying his reputation. Ishaq Dar’s counsel too failed to explain the sharp rise of his income from Rs44.827 million to Rs837.15 million within a short period. Meanwhile, SECP Chairman Zafar Hijazi – who is charged with tampering with the record pertaining to Sharif family’s Chaudhry Sugar Mills – was arrested by FIA after the cancellation of his interim bail. All eyes are fixed now on the SC bench with the hope that the verdict would be announced at the earliest.