- Special bench orders JIT members to give all respect to individuals
The Supreme Court special bench – overseeing the implementation of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in the Panama case – on Monday reposed confidence in the investigators in light of objections raised towards two team members by Hussain Nawaz, son of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
The three-member bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, heard the petition filed by Hussain against the alleged bias of Amer Aziz and Bilal Rasool, who represent the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), respectively, in the six-member JIT.
Justice Ejaz observed that no JIT member would be replaced without solid evidence. “If they start acting on such objections, then they will have to call angels from the skies to become JIT members,” he observed. “You are targeting a member who is doing his work,” the bench observed while responding to the objections.
Referring to points raised in the petition, Justice Ejazul Ahsan said that one person cannot influence the entire team. Similarly, Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh observed that if the prime minister thinks a JIT of his own choosing would probe the case then he (the prime minister) was surely mistaken.
The bench directed the JIT to continue working according to the law, and said it would not be replacing any member of the high-profile team. When Khawaja Harris, counsel for Hussain, said that Tariq Shafi, the relative of the prime minister, was debriefed for 13 hours and misbehaved by the JIT members, the bench ordered that individuals appearing in front of the JIT should be respected.
Earlier, the bench came down hard on officials snubbing summons by the JIT. After being informed that National Bank President Saeed Ahmad has not appeared before the JIT despite being summoned, the judges ordered him to appear before the probe team. The bench warned all those who refuse to appear before the JIT that the court would issue bailable and non-bailable arrest warrants to ensure the presence of all who were called by the investigators.
The bench also observed that it has ordered the JIT to complete its probe in 60 days, adding that they’re working day and night without any break. Harris stated that they were fully cooperating with the JIT, stressing that his client left as soon as he was summoned by the JIT, even though he had just arrived in the country.
JIT’s head Wajid Zia also informed the court that Qatari Prince Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani was summoned to record his statement before the investigators but he has yet to respond to their letter. Justice Ejaz remarked that if Prince Jasim fails to appear before the team, his letter could be trashed in wastebasket.
Good to hear that Supreme Court has rejected the objections raised by the culprit. It would have been disappointing if SC would have honored his plea & would have sent the wrong vibes that SC superior bench’s choice of JIT crew was improper. Such pleas tantamount to audacity & should be at least snubbed if not considered as a contempt of court.
If the Qatri prince does not appear before the JIT, the defence of PM’s family will be compromised and finishe’d. PM will ensure the prince’s presence, but will he be able to produce an solid evidence? Sharif’s family corruption is likely to be exposed…
All depends upon the end result of JIT.
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