Maryam Nawaz appears before Panama JIT, warns opponents of conspiring against Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: The prime minister’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, said on Wednesday the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the Sharif family's assets has no case against them. 

Speaking to the media after her questioning by the Panama case JIT at the Federal Judicial Academy, she thanked supporters for assembling at the venue. 

Maryam said she answered honestly all the questions asked by the JIT members. "I asked them once their questions ended what we are accused of? They didn’t have an answer!" she narrated.

"After six months in the Supreme Court and 70 days in the JIT, I realised today they have nothing against us," she explained.  

This is the first JIT in the world that has been formed before knowing what charges to level, she said, reiterating what her brothers have claimed earlier. 

The premier's daughter vowed there is not a shred of evidence against Nawaz Sharif over misuse of public funds, saying "not a penny has been misappropriated".

'Using the daughter to get to the father'

"I was also [wrongly] involved in the Dawn Leaks [case]. The reason is the same: to put a father under pressure by targeting his daughter. Everyone knows that in Islamic culture the daughter is considered most dear to his father. But they’ll discover the Nawaz Sharif's daughter is his strength not weakness. I’m the daughter of someone who taught me to stand up for what’s right, and not bow down before injustice," she added.

Maryam said they too could have used technicalities to hide in the corridors of power: diverted their vehicle to a hospital after 'back pain [excuse]' or become an absconder hiding in an official rest house in Nathiagali but they have presented accountability for three generations.

"Those saying they’ll make us cry should know only God can make us bow down and cry...[and] because we belong to the ruling family, our judgment by God will be the most strict," she said further.

'Warning to opponents'

She warned the prime minister's opponents, saying "you should know if you conspire against Nawaz Sharif, he’ll come back stronger". 

She also warned "beware of the day that Nawaz Sharif will take all this scrutiny to the people in 2018". 

Stop him if you can from becoming the prime minister again. Stop him otherwise terrorism will end and unprecedented development will take place in Pakistan, she said. 

"Don’t force him to reveal the conspiracies he keeps secret from the people. ‘They’ know he won’t divulge the conspiracies in public as he holds the country dear," she disclosed. 

Concluding her speech, she did not take any questions from the media. 

Following the speech, the premier's son Hussain Nawaz briefly took the mic, saying questions over money trails should also be asked from those who have assets in Pakistan.

Arrival at the judicial academy 

Earlier, accompanied by her family members and senior government officials, Maryam reached the Federal Judicial Academy at around 11am.

Before proceeding inside for the session, Maryam waved to supporters gathered outside the academy. 

Prior to her departure from the PM House, Geo News acquired a picture wherein Maryam was seen embracing her mother, Kalsoom Nawaz, who is holding the Holy Quran. 

The JIT was formed on May 5 to probe the Sharif family’s assets in light of the Supreme Court’s April 20 judgment. 

Maryam was likely questioned by all six JIT members, after National Accountability Bureau's Irfan Mangi and Military Intelligence's Brigadier Kamran Khurshid returned to the country early Wednesday following a day's visit to Dubai.

Sources said the two JIT members visited Dubai in light of the investigation and returned via Emirates flight EK-612. 

Asif Kirmani speaks to the media

Talking to the media after Maryam proceeded for the JIT session, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Asif Kirmani, citing media reports, criticised the recent ‘Dubai excursion’ of the two JIT members as it did not include recording the Qatari prince’s statement. 

Kirmani, once again, critcised the JIT's alleged decision to not record the Qatari prince's statement, which goes in favour of the Sharif family. He pleaded the Supreme Court to order the JIT to record the prince's statement, adding that failure to do so would make the JIT report the most controversial ever. 

He further alleged that the two JIT members travelled to Dubai in 'business class', saying the people will hold them accountable for 'wasting' public money. 

Heightened security 

Islamabad Police extended the security perimeter around the academy prior to Maryam's arrival and deployed more than 2,500 personnel on various security duties in light of Maryam's visit. Four SPs, 11 DSPs and 13 inspectors were overseeing the security plan, with Special Branch SP Arsala Saleem deputed specifically for the security of the premier’s daughter.

Contingents of Rangers and Frontier Constabulary were also deployed around the academy since early morning. Similar security measures were put in place on June 15, when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appeared before the JIT.

Reacting on Twitter, Imran Khan termed 'inexplicable the 'official protocol' provided to Maryam, 'a private citizen'. 

Posters in favour of Maryam were put up in the vicinity while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers from Rawalpindi, Lahore and Gujranwala had left for the academy to ‘express their support for the daughter of the nation’.

PML-N supporters remove police barricades in Pindi

In Rawalpindi, a rally led by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi and the city's mayor, Sardar Nasim, forced its way towards the Federal Judicial Academy after removing police barriers.

The I-9 police attempted to restrict the highly-charged PML-N supporters but they forced their way onward, and did not even heed to the call of their party leaders.  

Traffic police had earlier closed down the main road into Sector H-8 — where the academy is situated — from the I-8 Interchange and later blocked the Islamabad Expressway from the Faizabad Interchange in light of Maryam's arrival.

A long queue of vehicles lined up on the highway as a result, frustrating commuters between the twin cities. 

Maryam becomes the sixth member of the Sharif family to be questioned by the JIT, with her father, uncle Shehbaz Sharif, brothers Hussain and Hasan, and husband Muhammad Safdar appearing before her.

Moreover, National Accountability Bureau Chairman Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry has also been summoned by the JIT today, and is expected to appear around 2pm, according to sources.

The JIT's probe has picked up pace in recent days, as the July 10 deadline to submit its final report nears.

I will [not] cower down, nor yield to pressure: Maryam

On Tuesday evening, in a series of messages on Twitter, Maryam said her father has been through testing times in more than 30 years of his political career, acing out his rivals. 

"Yet as an affectionate and protective father, I saw his eyes filled with concern and apprehensions over his daughter's appearance before JIT," she stated, adding that she reassured her father and told him "I am your daughter, trained by you, [I] will neither cower down, nor yield to pressure and nothing will deter me from taking up the cudgels against transgression and injustice".

The ‘first daughter’ also said that she would appear before the investigation team and follow the rule of law like her father has always done.

No moral grounds for Maryam's summons: Shehbaz

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday there are are no moral grounds for Maryam’s summoning.

"Our culture teaches us to respect women," he said, adding, that "women in the Sharif family were also subjected to mistreatment during the unconstitutional government of [Gen (retd)] Pervez Musharraf".