Panama case: JIT questions Hussain Nawaz for six hours

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz on Tuesday recorded his statement before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

This is the second appearance of the premier’s son before the JIT, probing the premier’s family’s financial dealings abroad. The JIT continued interrogation for five and a half hours.

Hussain Nawaz came out of the building and spoke to media after the JIT session.

“I was fasting and responded to all the questions asked,” he said.

Hussain Nawaz said that he has provided all the documents that the JIT asked for, adding that he respects the law.

"I can say with conviction that nothing wrong would be proved against me, my father (PM Nawaz) or any sibling", Hussain Nawaz said.

When asked about the two members that Hussain earlier objected to, the premier’s son stated that the matter should be let to rest.

“If I have any objections in future, I’ll appeal to the court,” he said.

According to sources, the JIT can summon the PM's son tomorrow as well.

The premier’s son, who appeared before the JIT for almost two hours on Sunday as well, reached the JIT headquarters — the Federal Judicial Academy — at around 11am. He was greeted by a horde of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) activists upon his arrival.

Sources in Hussain’s legal team informed that the JIT has asked for important documents related to 16 areas of interest — from offshore companies, foreign bank statements, tax returns and properties.

Moreover, National Bank of Pakistan President Saeed Ahmad also reached the venue around the same time to give his statement to the JIT. Sources said Ahmad appeared first in front of the JIT, headed by Federal Investigation Agency's Wajid Zia.

PML-N leaders, including premier's political secretary Asif Kirmani, MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Senator Chaudhry Tanvir, MNA Maiza Hameed, Danial Aziz, Hanif Abbasi and Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar also reached the venue along with party workers. 

Around two-and-a-half hours after the JIT started deposing Ahmad and later Hussain, a special ambulance arrived at the JIT headquarters. Answering journalists' queries at the academy's gate, a man sitting in the SUV-turned-ambulance with a government number plate identified himself as Dr Omar and said they had been called in. He refused to comment further and went inside.

On Monday, the special bench overseeing the implementation of the JIT probe reposed its confidence in the body in light of objections raised towards two team members by the prime minister’s son.

The three-member bench disregarded the objections raised by Hussain and directed the JIT to continue working according to the law, and said it would not be replacing any member of the high-profile probe team.

Earlier, the bench came down hard on officials snubbing summons by the JIT.

After being informed that the National Bank president has not appeared before the JIT despite being summoned, the judges ordered him to appear before the probe team today (Tuesday).

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.