Panama case: Hussain Nawaz expresses anger following statement to JIT

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz on Sunday appeared before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the premier’s assets for nearly two hours.

The JIT — probing the prime minister's family's business dealings abroad in light of the Supreme Court’s April 20 order — had summoned the premier's son to record his statement with them on Sunday. 

The premier's son left the venue without talking to the media. Talking to Geo News, Islamabad Mayor Ansar Sheikh confirmed that Hussain has recorded his statement before the JIT.

Earlier, talking to the media after arriving at the Federal Judicial Academy to record his statement, Hussain lamented that he was only given a day to respond to the JIT's notice. 

However, Hussain said he would record his statement with the probe team as it has a legal value till the Supreme Court decides on his petition [regarding partiality of two JIT members]. Answering a question, he identified his lawyer as Advocate Abdul Ghani.

Prevented from taking lawyers alongside

According to sources, JIT members initially did not permit lawyers to enter alongside Hussain.

The premier's son was ordered to sit alone, while he protested.

At the end of the two-hour session, Hussain expressed anger and his reservations towards the treatment from the JIT members. The JIT members did not take it well and resented the decision of Hussain registering his objection in the Supreme Court.

A special bench of the apex court has fixed May 29 for hearing a plea by Hussain Nawaz, who has expressed reservations over two members of the JIT.

The three-judge special bench will take up his plea, objecting to Amer Aziz and Bilal Rasool, who respectively represent the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in the six-member JIT.

While Hussain was before the JIT, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Danyal Aziz, flanked by other party leaders including MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, spoke in his favour in front of the media. . 

Hussain, in a petition filed to the Supreme Court that is set to be heard today, has objected to two JIT members, questioning their partiality

Hussain has claimed that the JIT member from the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Bilal Rasool, is the nephew of PTI leader Mian Azhar. He added that despite being a public servant, Bilal frequently speaks against the ruling federal government, while his wife is also a PTI supporter.

Regarding the JIT member from the State Bank of Pakistan, Amir Aziz, Hussain says he was part of the investigation team in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case during the regime of former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf. Aziz also threatened the premier’s cousin, Tariq Shafi, while investigating him in the Panama case, Hussain has alleged. Aziz also allegedly directed Shafi to take back his sworn statement, according to Hussain’s petition.

The probe team, headed by Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director Wajid Zia, is working out of the Federal Judicial Academy.

Before the premier's son's arrival, the capital's mayor, PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi and other party workers had reached the venue in a show of support. 

Talking to Geo News before Hussain's arrival on Sunday, PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rasheed said Hussain’s objections are legitimate and should be taken into consideration. "JIT should have decided not to go forward with today’s summoning till the Supreme Court decides on his petition," said Rasheed — who was recently serving as the federal information minister till he was removed over the Dawn Leaks issue.

Similar views were expressed by State Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb while talking to Geo News. She said the JIT could have waited for a day to let the Supreme Court bench adjudicate on the matter. 

Earlier, reports stated that as the premier’s son is not in the country, he may send a legal representative.

Responding to those reports, in a statement on Twitter Saturday night, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said he is not surprised to learn that Hussain Nawaz is reluctant to appear before the JIT. He [Hussain Nawaz] too cannot play without the help of the umpire, just like his father, the PTI chief remarked.