Supreme Court satisfied with JIT's progress in Panama case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court bench formed to implement the Panama case verdict has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the case. 

The JIT on Monday presented its  first interim report which comprises its findings of the first 15-days of its investigation. It is expected to complete its investigation in a total of 60 days. 

The bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, comprises Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director-General Wajid Zia, who is heading the JIT, submitted the report to the bench. Other JIT members were also present at the proceedings. 

After examining the documents submitted by the JIT, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan directed the investigators to ensure their task is completed in a transparent manner no later than 60 days — as prescribed in the April 20 Panama case judgment.

Justice Shiekh Azmat Saeed expressed satisfaction with the direction and progress of the probe, saying in case there is an unwillingness to share information from any official, the court should be informed so corrective action may be ordered.

Before the hearing concluded, PTI’s counsel Fawad Chaudhry asked the bench to make the report public as ‘it is not their personal case but that of the entire country’. However, the bench disagreed, saying there is no legal precedent of a criminal case where an under-progress investigation is made public before its completion. 

Justice Azmat Saeed said in case there is such precedence, the bench can be made aware of it by the counsel. He added that the report would be made public when the time comes. 

The hearing was then adjourned till June 7.

On April 20, the five-member Supreme Court bench hearing the Panama Papers case, by a majority verdict of three to two, ordered the constitution of a JIT to probe the assets of the incumbent prime minister.

The bench had also requested the Supreme Court Chief Justice to constitute a special bench to ensure the implementation of the judgment.

On May 2, the Supreme Court announced formation of a three-judge bench to implement its judgement in the Panama Papers case. The judges who had handed down the majority judgment in the case were made members of the bench.

PML-N, PTI's war of words

Talking to the media outside the court, the JIT head said they are working according to the court’s directions. He did not comment when asked regarding the questioning of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Speaking outside the court after the hearing, leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz criticised Imran Khan for ‘hurling baseless allegations’ against the fourth-elected premier of the country.

PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry, addressing the media, said they are disappointed that the JIT’s progress report will not be shared with the public. He claimed since the case affects all of Pakistan, the public has a right to know. Commenting on Monday’s proceedings, he said the judges have termed this a criminal case where the Code of Criminal Procedure is applied; hence the prime minister can be arrested.

Later, State Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb lashed out at the PTI chief, saying “they [PTI] want cheap publicity on issues of national importance.” She said the party [PTI] speaks the enemy’s language on all issues, be it the [Kulbhushan] Jadhav hearing in the International Court of Justice or the Dawn Leaks issue.

Speaking after the minister, party leader Talal Chaudhry said it was proved today that the JIT is working freely and without any pressure from the ruling party, as was alleged by its detractors before. 

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, while entering the court to attend the proceedings, had said they will decide on whether to ask the bench to order the JIT to release daily progress reports after examining the present 15-day report. 

The probe so far 

The initial phase of the JIT probe dealt with receiving all the important records related to the case from the concerned departments. Sources said the JIT has received the record of the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) but the documents are unverified.

The JIT has also approached the Election Commission of Pakistan to obtain details of the assets of the prime minister and his son-in-law and MNA Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar.

The statements made by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's children, Maryam Safdar and Hussain Nawaz, on various television channels have also been recorded and compiled by the JIT.

Moreover, investigative journalist Umar Cheema — associated with the Jang Group and the representative of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists which broke the Panama Papers story — has also recorded his statements with the JIT in this regard.

Javed Shafi and other individuals whose names have come up in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case have also recorded their statements.

The JIT

The six-member JIT comprises its head, Zia, Amer Aziz of the State Bank of Pakistan, Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan's Executive Director Communication Bilal Rasool, Irfan Naeem Mangi of NAB, Brigadier Nauman Saeed of the Inter Services Intelligence and Brigadier Kamran Khurshid from the Military Intelligence.

The Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad has been declared as the secretariat of the JIT while the apex court ordered the federal government to provide the JIT members with the necessary funds to complete their task — with an initial amount of Rs20 million. The funds have been placed at the disposal of the JIT's head.

According to the Supreme Court's directives, the JIT has the power to engage and associate local and foreign experts to facilitate the investigation and collection of evidence.