Finance Minister Ishaq Dar appeared before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Sharif family for questioning at the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad on Monday.while Prime Minister's son Hassan Nawaz appeared for third time before JIT.
"I answered the questions they [the JIT] asked today because I believe whatever the situation is, it is very transparent," Dar said speaking to the media after the proceedings.
"The first notice I received was dated June 28." Dar said, denying claims that he had been summoned by the JIT thrice before but had failed to appear due to prior commitments.
He claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's name had not been mentioned in any case nor in any company documents. He alleged that those whose names are mentioned in such documents, however, were the heads of political parties.
Dar claimed that there has been a spectacle in the country for the past 23 years, adding that certain references that were filed during the rule of Gen Musharraf were based on lies.
"As far as the Panama Papers case is concerned, the PM's family presented themselves before the JIT but, just as they said, there is no case of even a rupee of corruption or scam," he alleged.
"Imran Khan used to say that from me they will find the money trail to the flats in London. Today, I have given the JIT an account of every rupee."
"You [Imran Khan] should be ashamed of conducting politics on the basis of lies," he thundered.
"My love-hate relationship with Imran Khan is very old but now I am disappointed... In 1993, when I was president of the Lahore Chamber after resigning from the Investment Board, he used to come to my office in the chamber as well as my private office. He would sit with my two sons and wait for me."
Lashing out at the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief, Dar asked "With what face did you file a petition against Nawaz Sharif under Article 62? Look at yourself first."
"Imran Khan is a scared man basically. A man who hides his marriage. When you ask him where he married Jemimah Khan he says Paris... He's lying," Dar alleged.
"Imran Khan, even if no one else knows, I know. How much will you lie?" the finance minister warned.
He said that it was hurtful to see Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, being summoned by the JIT as she was like a daughter to him. He added that if Khan's sister's name had also been mentioned in the documents for Niazi Services and they were summoned as Maryam was, it would hurt him.
He requested the Supreme Court to look into the matter and asked the JIT to revise its decision and send Maryam Nawaz a questionnaire to her house as opposed to asking her to appear before the JIT.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s children are being summoned by the joint investigation team (JIT) investigating his family’s offshore properties in order to stop him from taking the country forward, Hasssan Nawaz has claimed.
“They do not have any issues with my businesses but have to put up hurdles in the way of the prime minister,” the prime minister’s younger son told reporters outside the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad after appearing before the Panama Papers inquiry team on Monday.
“It is customary around the world that allegations are levelled first and then inquiries are conducted but here the cart is being put before the horse by carrying out investigations to search for allegations,” Hassan lamented.
The premier’s son said he asked the JIT about the crime he had done. “I asked them to tell me about the crime I have committed for which I am being made to wait for hours and my relatives and other family members are being summoned,” he added.
“I have been living in the UK for 23 years and have been doing business for 15 years and their regulatory authorities never raised any concerns; however, this newly-formed JIT is asking questions.”
The premier’s son said he submitted all the relevant record regarding his businesses in the UK and the JIT members did not have any questions to ask him in this regard.
Later, talking outside the judicial academy, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the political rivals of Nawaz Sharif were hatching conspiracies against him and his government.
“The business interests of Nawaz Sharif are being illegally dragged into the investigation of [Panamagate case],” Dar told journalists. “This practice is ongoing for the last 23 years; whenever the country is gaining stability, political parties launch a movement against him.”
“The conspiracies are being hatched against Pakistan’s stability both domestically and internationally.”
The minister went on to add that there is no proven corruption against the premier and the accusations on him should come to an end. “All matters [relating to the PM] are transparent and allegations of money laundering are unfounded,” he added. Dar said he himself had responded to every question of the JIT.
Criticising the summoning of Maryam Nawaz before the JIT, Dar asked that how would Imran Khan feel if his sisters were told to appear in front of the probing team.
“Imran Khan is basically a coward, a gambler and the one involved in tax evasion” Dar alleged. “PTI chairman’s assets should be investigated in view of the fact that he became rich overnight.”
Earlier on June 2, Hassan appeared before the JIT and brought with him the required documents, which the said JIT had inquired about. On his arrival at the judicial complex, supporters of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) were also present and chanted slogans in the premier’s favour.
