Daniyal Aziz terms Panama case a ‘joke’

Minister for Privatisation Daniyal Aziz on Friday contested that Panama Papers case was a ‘joke’ from the day one as it was meant for tax evasion and assets’ concealment and not for the ‘Aqama’ (work permit).

Addressing a news conference, he said that the case seemingly had an objective to target Nawaz Sharif and his family members as no one amongst the hundreds of people mentioned in petitions filed by appellants had been tried.

“Even then, the former prime minister and his family appeared before the Joint Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court for the sake of justice,” he added. “Firstly, the Supreme Court declared the petition as frivolous, secondly there are incidents like picture release and WhatsApp calls and thirdly the objection of NAB court stating of incomplete documentation.”

He said that Nawaz Sharif surrendered himself before the Supreme Court despite having legal right of seeking immunity being the prime minister. “Sharif family was being targeted through accountability and ‘Aqama,’ as punishment was awarded without any evidence,” he claimed.

He said that the punishment had already been awarded and references were filed days after the SC verdict, declaring the entire prosecution process was ‘unrecognisable’ and a ‘wonder’ in legal history of the country. The minister said that National Accountability Bureau was an independent institution and appointing a monitoring judge over the references tantamount to non-fulfillment of requirements of justice.

Daniyal said that propaganda was being made over volume-10 of the JIT report as there was nothing in it, adding that 22 questions, mentioned in the volume, could not be answered by the concerned. Answering a question, the minister said that the Sharif family faced discriminatory attitude but it was getting more popularity among the masses, which had also been revealed in a recent survey.

“It seems that a willful case was played to frame Nawaz Sharif and his family, while other references are just its package,” he said. He said that the PTI Chairman Imran Khan was trying to avoid appearing before the Election Commission and the SC in the foreign funding case and concealment of assets.

Daniyal said that the counsel for Imran had admitted in the courts and public that the PTI chairman did not declare his assets of Niazi Service Limited. Replying to another question, the minister said that he assumed the charge of his office a few days ago and would give a detailed briefing on matters related to his ministry soon.