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ISLAMABAD: Leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday accused two members of the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the Panama Papers case of harassing Hussain Nawaz, son of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who appeared before the team earlier in the day.
Addressing a press conference at the Press Information Department here, Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb and Daniyal Aziz raised objections over the attitude of the two members of the JIT — Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s Bilal Rasool and State Bank of Pakistan’s Amer Aziz.
They also raised objections over what they called the relaxed attitude of the judiciary towards Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.
Marriyum, Aziz show concern over ‘relaxed attitude’ of judiciary towards Imran
Ms Aurangzeb alleged that the two members of the JIT were biased towards the Sharif family. The PML-N had already expressed its concern over inclusion of these two officials in the JIT, she added.
The minister accused the two JIT members of misbehaving with Tariq Shafi, a cousin of the prime minister, and said that they had told Mr Shafi not to appear before the JIT again. She alleged that the officials had told Mr Shafi that he could face a jail term if he did not withdraw the affidavit he had submitted in the Panama Papers case. “How can JIT members tell anyone what to submit and what not?” she questioned.
She said Mr Rasool and Mr Aziz should publicly declare that their association or friendship with the opponents of the Sharif family would not affect their performance as members of the JIT.
The minister also expressed concern over leaking of some papers, saying that it was upsetting that JIT’s summons to Hussain Nawaz were seen on social media.
The Supreme Court should take notice of the leaking of JIT’s summon and their use as political tools.
She said that Hussain Nawaz being a non-resident Pakistani was not obliged to abide the directives of the JIT. But he appeared before the JIT because he respected the law, she added.
Daniyal Aziz severely criticised the PIT chief and called him a proclaimed offender. He said it was strange that a ‘law breaker’ was roaming freely without any fear of the law.
He accused the Election Commission of Pakistan of being too lenient towards Mr Khan, saying that it was not taking action against the PTI chief for not appearing before it.
Answering a question about countrywide protests against electricity breakdowns, the information minister said the prime minister had taken notice of the situation and issued directives in this regard.
Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2017
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Comments (46) Closed
May 31, 2017 08:05am
I fully agree with the honorable minister that JIT members cannot and should not misbehave with those who are being questioned. However, may I dare, if not annoying to ask the minister to please define an elaborate as to what constitutes misbehavior which is very much subjective in any case. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi4erdiplomat@hotmail.com
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May 31, 2017 08:48am
Desperate statements
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May 31, 2017 08:52am
This is Joint Interrogation not an job interview team. Team should be harsh and must exert all pressure to squeeze truth from these people who make fortune outside the country while doing politics as family business.
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May 31, 2017 10:24am
@Tariq very balanced comment.
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May 31, 2017 10:30am
Dear JIT keep going with the same spirit and zeal. JIT should not show any respect and should use every kind of pressurizing tactics which may be helpful.
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May 31, 2017 10:34am
Minister should provide the proof of his statement, or it that also a political statement without any validity.
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May 31, 2017 10:55am
Can these so called leaders elaborate that why they are defending personal case of a family? They should defend govt or their party,but not an individual who is niether in party nor in govt.
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May 31, 2017 11:08am
Mr. Sharif junior is being investigated by a JIT for serious corruption charges as he was named in Panama papers. Does he expect to receive the same treatment from them as he receives from his party loyalists? Mr. Hamza, be sane and answer all the queries and satisy the JIT. You won't be agitated if you had nothing to hide. As much as it may seem like it, Pakistan is not your personal property. Yes, your father is the current PM of the country, but there have been many before and will be many after him. You are as ordinary a citizen of Pakistan as anyone, in the eyes of the law. So stop whining and follow the SC orders.
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May 31, 2017 11:44am
The JIT can be as tough in its questioning as the need be. But it, and especially the two members who have been named, ought not to lose sight of civility and decency. The JIT has been assigned a specific task, and it can be accomplished while remaining within the ambit of acceptable human behavior and courtesy. Playing demigods helps no one.
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May 31, 2017 12:30pm
In what capacity the Information Minister is advocating on behalf of Hussain Nawaz, who doesn't hold any public office. This is purely a family matter and only spokesman for the family should be making statements, I reckon.
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May 31, 2017 12:46pm
A citizen, who does not hold any government office, is being asked questions based upon a decision of Supreme court relating to a matter which is the citizens family personal affair. How does a minister who is not family gets involved?
As a citizen whose taxes are paying ministers salary I ask the minister to focus on the portfolio assigned to her.
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May 31, 2017 01:05pm
Any person required by JIT should be interrogated fully whether he is son of PM or not.
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May 31, 2017 01:46pm
These self proclaimed lords should understand that Pakistan legal system is changing and is no more for poor only. Couple of years back no body would have dared to ask them any questions without major risk but times have changed, thanks to honest politicians, judges and vibrant media.
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May 31, 2017 01:50pm
No one is above law including the son of the Prime Minister. The information minister should be ashamed of her role for using state machinery to arrange a press conference and speak against the JIT members accusing them of misbehaving.
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May 31, 2017 02:43pm
He should be interrogated the same way as an ordinary Pakistani is interrogated by the Police in the Police stations........
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May 31, 2017 02:57pm
The minister represents all Pakistanis. She did not make the same observations on JIT of Uzair Baluch
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May 31, 2017 02:59pm
..
both named JIT members are employees of government... so a drama to make people think that JIT is just, unbiased, and righteous... these games they play for power... power will they take it with themselves to end?
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May 31, 2017 03:02pm
You harass the whole nation through your corruption and now you get your stomach loose to be in investigation.
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May 31, 2017 03:10pm
Mr Danial Aziz & Maryam Aurangzeb Hussain Nawaz was appeared in a JIT which is investigating the Panama leaks case, it is not a tv show where an anchor questions you in a lighter mood.
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May 31, 2017 03:14pm
No one should be above law
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May 31, 2017 03:18pm
The members better know how to question.
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May 31, 2017 03:20pm
@Saad(DXB)
Every person who is accused of corruption should be interrogated. You cannot treat them as guilty till proven and you do get agitated if you are hartadsed and put pressure on the accused by someone else,s orders sir.
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May 31, 2017 03:26pm
And I hope that the honourable minister and Mr. Aziz who apparently are against all forms of corruption would pay from their pocket the tax payers money they are using in form of PID to protect a family accused of corruption. If not then they or their dependents (as Nihal Hashmi says) would one day have to pay back for misuse of state machinery for personal gains. Can anyone please educate me as what Mr. Aziz's role is and how come he gives his party's view point from the state's platform.
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May 31, 2017 03:44pm
I am speechless to see Ministers paid by people are representing a person who is not part of govt.
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May 31, 2017 04:12pm
The truth is always bitter the true story will come out surely.
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May 31, 2017 04:47pm
Suspects in custody get even more questions asked. He should be ready to answer questions if he is clean. Only a guilty conscience will complain.
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May 31, 2017 05:06pm
may I ask minister in what capacity is defending accused?? he is not part of Government neither he is part of PMLN??
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May 31, 2017 05:16pm
A legal action against Mr Nehal Hasmi for threatening on life.. As far as I understand there is a legal line crossed in public.
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May 31, 2017 05:48pm
Hussain Nawaz ignored the court orders three times and when appeared it was after 24hours of the final order. JIT members are supposed to ask questions and of course attitude towards Imran would be generous as he have provided all the documentation before them and on the otherside they PML(N) has been stalling forever..
PML(N)desreve this.
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May 31, 2017 05:58pm
It is a high profile case. every one including jit members, supreme court and prime minister and all other must shown a behaviour like of a civilised people. I believe this is the first case of this kind and in future asif ali zardari and his allies and other Imran Khan and Nawaz sharif allies may also have to go through this net. everyone should show behaviour of professionalism instead of being sultan rahi.
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May 31, 2017 06:24pm
In Pakistan politics it's always lies in the blood of the political parties to raise hues and cries when ever they are questioned about their misconducts . They always take cover of their self proclaimed innocence and raise their dis trust on the fact finding or trial committees .
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May 31, 2017 06:27pm
@Basir Ali & @Muhammad Mansoor Sajid - very interesting comment about why these people are trying to defend father/son duo on a personal matter. In fact, this is very interesting since the whole party has been engaged in their defense where this is really a personal matter for the corrupt family.
Is nawaz paying off his ministers for talking in their defense? No the tax payers are paying their salaries while they are spending their entire lives on father/son defense.
Isn't that another crime, illegal use of time by ppl holding public office?
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May 31, 2017 06:27pm
The objections n concerns appear to have force need to be addressed. Surprisingly a person declared proclaimed offender is not taken action against. Perhaps Mush also declared po but free. Law should be equally applicable.
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May 31, 2017 06:43pm
We are so naive. OMG. All this is being done to give credence to the clean chit this BIT will be handing out to the royal family. Wake up guys!
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May 31, 2017 06:48pm
Everyone in Pakistan is bound by law of the land, single, dual or foreign national. This Lady should also enlighten the nation in what capacity this son of Sharif accompany Prime Minister of Pakistan in official tours if he is not bound by any law of the land. These people will bite the dust sooner or later. They are exposing themselves.
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May 31, 2017 06:50pm
Give them questions in writings... Problem solved. Based on the answers scrutinize them.
Use British techniques of interrogation.
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May 31, 2017 06:52pm
Only way to find out the truth, live the video of these sessions.
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May 31, 2017 07:02pm
@Muhammad Mansoor Sajid, Mr minister is their family spokesman.
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May 31, 2017 07:28pm
They are being investigated for possible criminal charges. There is no such thing as harassment for asking a question for his own lies he created.
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May 31, 2017 07:57pm
WHat did you think, was it supposed to be a walk in the park?
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May 31, 2017 08:01pm
Nawaz Shareef should have resigned long time ago when his name popped up in the Panama leaks just like the PM of Sweden.
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May 31, 2017 08:07pm
And the PML-N is harassing the whole nation.
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May 31, 2017 09:44pm
The Supreme Court should lay down clear procedural guidelines for the conduct of the Joint Invesitgation.
The bench supervising the Joint Investigation should have a day long workshop with the JIT and train them to conduct themselves in accordance with the guidelines.
The public and members of political parties should be held severely to task for any contempt of the Supreme Court.
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Jun 01, 2017 01:27am
seems the PML "TOLA" is now in a panic mood and clutching at straws and creating doubts and lunging at windmills (Ala Don Quixote)
And by the way can any of the PML super heroes and geniuses and righteous people tell me if they REALLy understand what the case is about. it is certainly NOT against the government or even the party. Why then oh why are the ministers spending tax payers money and neglecting their jobs and duties to defend an individual ( Even if he IS the PM ) and more so hussain NAwaz who hold no office- neither in the government or party
this is a sad reflection on the part of the PML guys and the govt functionaries- can it be seen as their modus operandi they are also using coercion, threats and inducements to try to disrupt the cause if free investigation and justice
'Will the sleeping nation not take notice and wake up and throe these looters OUT
Pakistan Zindabad
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Jun 01, 2017 12:39pm
Mr. Danial Aziz is forgetting that not arresting a proclaimed offender is failure/incompetence of the sitting government.
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Jun 02, 2017 06:41am
Looks this and other such allegations by the ruling party is part of a well knit plan to malign the JIT created by the SC to investigate the money trail of Nawaz Sharif & family. An accused appearing before the inquiry committee is not considered an elite, he or she is considered an ordinary person facing grave charges of high corruptions.
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