ISLAMABAD: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), tasked to probe Sharif family’s offshore assets, has recorded the statement of former NAB chairman Lt General (Retd) Syed Muhammad Amjad regarding Hudaibiya Paper Mills case, a reference that has garnered the special attention of the Bench during the Panamagate hearing.
Lt General (Retd) Syed Muhammad Amjad was the first chairman of the National Accountability Bureau, who served the position between the years 1999 to 2000.
In year 2000, Amjad had approved Hudaibiya Paper Mills money laundering reference against Sharif family, initiated on the basis of confessional statement of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
In his statement Dar had admitted his role in alleged money laundering to the tune of $14.86 million, on behalf of the Sharif family, through fictitious accounts.
Nawaz Sharif’s name was not part of the interim Hudaibiya Paper Mills reference signed by Amjad in March 2000. However, in the final reference approved by second Chairman NAB Khalid Maqbool, the bureau had accused Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Abbas Sharif, Hussain Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz, Shamim Akhtar, Sabiha Abbas and Maryam Nawaz in the case.
On Thursday, Amjad spent an hour with the JIT members and answered their questions. He neither talked with the media upon his arrival at the JIT, nor after testifying before the probe team.
As JIT’s investigation entered its final stage, it lined up all three children of the Premier Sharif – Hussain Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz Safdar. They are all set to appear before the JIT on July 3, 4 and 5, respectively.
PM’s cousin Tariq Shafi has also been asked to appear before the JIT on July 2. Shafi will appear for the third time before the JIT. Meanwhile it will be Hussain’s sixth, Hassan’s third and Maryam’s first appearance before the JIT.
JIT is scheduled to complete and submit its complete investigations with the Supreme Court on July 10 upon conclusion of two-month given to it by the apex court to complete the probe.
