Hussain Nawaz appears before Panama Papers case JIT for fourth time
Hussain Nawaz, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's elder son, on Saturday appeared for the fourth time before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted by the Supreme Court to probe the Panama Papers case, DawnNews reported.
He arrived at the Federal Judicial Academy, where the JIT has set up its secretariat, amid tight security, flanked by PML-N leaders. Hanif Abbasi, Sajjad Khan, Deputy Mayor Zeeshan Naqvi and State Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also reached the academy.
The apex court had ordered the JIT to complete its probe within 60 days and framed 13 questions which are being investigated and answered.
Following his appearance before the JIT at the Judicial Academy, Hussain told reporters he would appear as many times as asked to.
Hussain claimed that his father, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had not been summoned by the JIT for questioning as yet. "He has always followed the law and has never shied away from putting himself in difficult situations for the sake of upholding the sanctity of the law," said Hussain.
Responding to a question about the family's London flats, Hussain clarified: "As far as the flats are concerned, there is a narrative we have presented to the Supreme Court. We are sticking with that narrative."
Reiterating his earlier stance, Hussain said, "There is no evidence against us; no proof that can be brought forward."
A day earlier, his younger brother, Hassan Nawaz, had appeared before the JIT for the first time to defend the money trail of the Sharifs' London properties. The JIT held a seven-hour-long session with Hassan Nawaz.
When Hussain emerged from the JIT secretariat following his previous appearance, he claimed that there was not an iota of evidence of any wrongdoing or illegality committed by him, his father, brother and sister.
In his first appearance before the JIT, the premier's elder son refused to answer questions put forth by the investigative body, saying that the JIT's status was 'sub judice' as he had already filed a petition before the apex court regarding two of its constituents.
Subsequently, the apex court terminated the plea filed by Hussain seeking the exclusion of the two JIT members. After each of the next two hearings, he told reporters that he had answered all questions put forward by the JIT.
The proceedings of the six-member JIT set up to examine the business dealings of the Sharif family abroad is being monitored by the apex court on a fortnightly basis.