Panama Papers JIT probe enters crucial, concluding stage
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The powerful six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) tasked with probing the business dealings of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons abroad is entering a crucial stage, with the investigation heading towards conclusion.
Sources told Dawn the JIT was in the process of winding up the probe by next week, after which it would finish compiling the final investigation report by the second week of July before it was submitted to the apex court by the July 10 deadline.
On Saturday, the JIT in its meeting reviewed the documents pertaining to the business and tax records of the Sharif family that were submitted by Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
See: Defiant PM looks to next election for vindication
In this regard, the JIT is summoning members of the Sharif family once again. The premier's cousin Tariq Shafi will appear before the high-powered JIT on Sunday, when insiders said he will be re-examined over his statements recorded during his earlier appearance before the body.
And on Monday, the JIT consisting of members from SECP, National Accountability Bureau, State Bank of Pakistan, Military Intelligence, Inter-Services Intelligence and Federal Investigation Agency, has summoned Hussain Nawaz, the prime minister's elder son.
Hassan Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz will appear before the body on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, in what officials said will be the concluding week of the JIT tasked with collecting evidence within two months.
Insiders told DawnNews that the JIT summoned members of Sharif family for the second time after investigators found contrast between statements recorded by them and the documents submitted by relevant government departments.
The JIT was formed by the Supreme Court after its verdict on the Panama Papers case was split 3-2 among a five-judge bench, with the two dissenting notes in the judgment authored by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Gulzar Ahmed.
The two judges had ruled against Sharif, saying he should be disqualified, whereas the other three were in favour of forming a JIT.
Despite the hype over the JIT and its ongoing investigations, legal and investigation experts feel the report, once it is presented to the court, will simply be the beginning of a long process.
Legal experts feel that the JIT’s report, once it is completed, may lead to further hearings.
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On DawnNews
Comments (47) Closed
Jul 02, 2017 12:04am
Nothing will happen..corrupt mafia in country will be fine till the end.
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Jul 02, 2017 12:06am
Interesting to see the names of those will be send to ECL in near future! For God sake don't disrupt the nation after the verdict. At lease get two days ration in advance.
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Jul 02, 2017 12:09am
I am a person looking in from the outside, and when i saw it i didnt like the idea of the inquiry,why because i see your nation as different, and i saw this inquiry as so much like the dogma and political clutter of the USA. ( gee dont for goodness sake go there) how i felt.! Digging through mounds of evidence tracing this, that, the modern world today, has arrived it seems, and wrong doing can be hidden effectively and so much has to be done to fix what once was simple.
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Jul 02, 2017 12:28am
It would be in the best interest of Pakistan for Nawaz to resign to save his family of further harassment. The PM has become a laughing stock for world leaders in the west and lost all the respect. They will only communicate with him for their own interest
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Jul 02, 2017 12:32am
It appears that the sadiq & amin petitioner named Imran Khan might have finally some victory to cheer about, thanks to sadiq & amin Justices of the apex court and sadiq & amin members of JIT. Poor Zardari has to play some trick to get back in the brotherhood of sadiq & amin.
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Jul 02, 2017 12:34am
It is the influence of the PM and his government which is coming in the way of justice.
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Jul 02, 2017 12:42am
Like many I also do not find the idea of JIT a very useful one adopted by the Supreme Court. Knowingly that NS will be head of the executive and pitting all the federal institution like SBP, NBP, SECP, FIA, NAB,IB etc against him was asking for trouble from the beginig. Finally there was no need of ISI to be put there in a financial corruption institution.Also the public like me want to know exactly what was the 'exact evidence' presented to Supreme Court which made 2 judges to conclude that NS can go home on the basis of corruption.
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Jul 02, 2017 12:50am
@Carol Lee Murphy Possibly you have people like financial cooks of Wall Street etc in mind when you say wrongdoing can be hidden effectively. They are financial experts and can hide their tracks because they know the law will catch up with them somewhere along the road. Here, in Pak politicians, you are looking at people who never thought they would be asked any questions so they plundered and gobbled up whatever came their way. They have left so much in the open and now all of a sudden they have to answer questions. And, as many can see now, they have no answers.
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Jul 02, 2017 12:54am
@Carol Lee Murphy Big difference between the US and Pakistan. Pakistan is a young democracy still trying to break the shackles of imperialism and learning to walk. We've had dictators, military rule and assassinations in the short period. We need accountability to take hold. It's too early to be bogged down into a civil war over simple democratic principles. This investigation and JIT is the best way forward.
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Jul 02, 2017 12:55am
@F Khan Big difference between the US and Pakistan. Pakistan is a young democracy still trying to break the shackles of imperialism and learning to walk. We've had dictators, military rule and assassinations in the short period. We need accountability to take hold. It's too early to be bogged down into a civil war over simple democratic principles. This investigation and JIT is the best way forward.
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Jul 02, 2017 01:04am
Final verdict will be as follows: there are signs of corruption and money laundering, but the evidence is not strong enough to charge Nawaz Sharif or anyone from his family. Case closed. People of Pakistan get fooled once again.
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Jul 02, 2017 01:22am
Those being investigated for corruption are so corrupt that I'd not be surprised if tomorrow we find out that this entire drama of creating JIT by the SC was part of a big plan for which billions were spent by the so-called corrupt mafia. I am glad JIT is reaching its final days and the only hope I have is that this time sanity will prevail and it would allow SC judges to fear God and not the mafia for delivering justice. One political party member was right in saying that the SC's decision should be black and white, I agree because the JIT process is fuzzy and raises some serious concerns about it being fair, impartial, and powerful. But as I said, I'd not be surprised if people don't get justice and then masses come onto streets, in any case justice will be delivered this time!
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Jul 02, 2017 01:31am
Wasting of time of nation, nothing else, JIT result will be zero and will be in favour of PML-N
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Jul 02, 2017 01:33am
@Carol Lee Murphy It was very simple but was made really complicated. If property was purchased with money earned from legitimate means; the accused should have produced money trail consisting of bank statements (not a letter from Qatar). If they fail to produce an authentic money trail they ahould have been liable for corruption.
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Jul 02, 2017 01:35am
Nothing will happen mark my words, everyone will go scot-free. And life as usual will continue.
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Jul 02, 2017 01:36am
People in Pakistan can jump up and shout all they want, the truth is 2 families in the country hold a vice like grip on the future of the state. Very very sad for the underprivileged and those unwilling to get involved in corruption.
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Jul 02, 2017 01:46am
Dear Carol
Your observation is right.It is difficulte to prove financial corruption.In this case things are by the way very simple. The owner of properties has to his source of the wealth that he used to buy the property.
Ahsan
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Jul 02, 2017 02:00am
Well its been great for media, news the gurus and pundits of politics but in Pakistan things will remain as is with this Familys corruption flying our flag. Nothing will change.
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Jul 02, 2017 02:01am
I just can't understand as to why Prime Minister has 20 people around him wherever he goes. British PM has a couple pf people with her and no more. How come Pakistani tax payers can afford so many people who just seem to be around the PM doing nothing.
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Jul 02, 2017 02:04am
I hope, for once, these high powered politicians are held accountable for their nefarious crimes against the poor, uneducated people of Pakistan.
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Jul 02, 2017 03:12am
Sharif family has to justify its earnings by paper trail. They have been public office holders for 3 decades now. No trail as a minimum is negligence and maximum corruption. Either way you look at it, it should lead to PM dismissal as a minimum and corruption trial as a maximum
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Jul 02, 2017 03:18am
Every opportunity must be given to the accused that he/she is clean. Obviously there is a significant increase of wealth of this family. Either some one from Arab countries is there business partner, or they have investment that yielded great returns, or they have insider information, or they are very best in dealing business, or they are more corrupt than anyone I met or heard about it. This lavish life style and owning so many businesses need to be cleared out.
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Jul 02, 2017 03:19am
This whole controversy should be about honesty and paying taxes, not about disqualifying Nawaz Sharif or Imran Khan from being prime minister.
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Jul 02, 2017 03:25am
I run NGOs in Asian countries.
If I would say truly, Pakistan having very corrupt and disgusting people along with Leaders.
Unlike The Brand Modi (PM of India) your close neighbour..
I appreciate all countries but The Fact must be Accepted.
By the way India is quite Far ahead from Pakistan in all development standards..
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Jul 02, 2017 03:47am
@F Khan The two judges did not disqualify Nawaz for corruption. They disqualified him for blatant lies he told in his addresses and speech in national assembly. Read the verdict.
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Jul 02, 2017 03:58am
@F Khan . The need to form JIT by SC was in fact a great leniency allowed to Shareef family, just if only one judge joined the two, it was done. But since it was an obsession of judges to issue a 'historic verdict' that could set a precedent for atleast 2o years, they formed JIT, which gave ample time to respondents to prove their innocence. This case could be a defining moment for Pakistan, as to curb and stop corruption termite injuring our lovely nation,and a major portion of funds goes in black pockets. No family is indispensable for Pakistan,the nation belongs to 20 crores of people,not to 200.
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Jul 02, 2017 05:22am
@salar What you think about your beloved PM Nawaz Sharif, is worse than a distractor, who never brought all the departments under one control, no record tampering, not making so many foreign trips only with his family members on public expense and above all, looted the Country like Sharifs and Zardaris? Democracy is NOT very young in our Country, these civilian dictators are using the word democracy for their own purpose, say, if we are NOT in power, the democracy is in danger, give chance to poor Dasti, I am sure, he will NOT make corruption like these 2 dictators have done.
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Jul 02, 2017 05:42am
There is no doubt that Nawaz Muslim League has corrupted all Govt. Agencies .No party ever tried to enforce honest and fair judicial system. Had only COUNTRY JUDICIAL SYSTEM FAIR AND HONEST, corruption had not entered in every person's life. Nawaz Sharif family has failed to provide source of earning to own/purchase expensive properties by his children, he must be disqualified for life time to occupy any public office and so must be every body who dished out public funds from Pakistan treasury.For the past over thirty years, both Bhutto/Zardari and Nawaz Sharif families are in power by hook or crook and have corrupted the whole Administration/Management system of country. As a result ,Pakistan has neither a single World class Hospital nor a University.Because their total investment is out of Pakistan. If Pakistan want to exist, Supreme Court must relieve Nation from their clutches and FAIR JUDICIAL SYSTEM BE ENFORCED.
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Jul 02, 2017 06:29am
Corruption and underhand deals have been rampant in Pakistan. True that these politicians take a considerable amount of money illegally. If they trickle down 60% to public still our country can move forward. How strange that these politicians forget their end day?
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Jul 02, 2017 06:55am
One can influence anything happening under his control. If PW was honest he should have handed over power and faced inquiry.
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Jul 02, 2017 07:47am
Justice in Trouble is what I get when I read about these incompetent and fame hungry JIT!!! Most funny cum useless JIT of Pak history!!!! 21 gun salute to those who are waiting for a miracle to happen!!
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Jul 02, 2017 07:49am
What JIT brings this time around is hope, I've never felt more hope as I feel today, if we can just get over this hump of justice, I believe, things could change for the better for years to come. here's to hoping for true justice against the rich and the powerful.
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Jul 02, 2017 08:03am
Hopefully a clear and final judgement will be delivered. The nation cannot sustain split judgement.
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Jul 02, 2017 08:18am
The case is subjudice,how can be said it's in 'crucial' or 'concluding 'sttage. Let the JIT hear more statements,and collect more evidences.
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Jul 02, 2017 09:03am
And definitely they are not going to reach on that end ! Further hearing will be continued and thus the matter will be forgotten for ever.
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Jul 02, 2017 09:18am
@salar: Ok agreed lets move on and punish him but what is the exact evidence presented to the SC which led to the fact that 2 judges concluded that NS or his family owned the property on or before 1993 from the corruption ( tax evaded money) funded through panama gate accounts. The public want to know what is that exact evidence?
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Jul 02, 2017 09:50am
I believe this whole issue of Panama Leak is an attempt by some internal and external powers to remove Nawaz Sharif from the power so that their regional strategic objectives can be achieved through a puppet government. I am sorry to say but IK is their front man and all corruption slogans are being raised to cover up the real motives. Why don't we have corruption inquiry against all the corrupt politicians, Generals, and the members of Judiciary? Why single out Nawaz Sharif. I am not saying that Nawaz Sharif is not corrupt but what I am saying is the equal justice for all. All corrupt politicians from PPP and PML-N have joined Imran Khan. Why would an honest mans himself to be surrounded by the corrupt politicians? Why do all corrupt politicians want to surround an honest man? It does not make any sense.
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Jul 02, 2017 11:23am
@Carol Lee Murphy Wow-Carol your words have nailed it. Thanks.
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Jul 02, 2017 11:31am
High time for the institutions especially the SC to meet the expectations of the people.
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Jul 02, 2017 01:29pm
Nawaz Sharif and his children will win this case due to lack of concrete evidence against them.
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Jul 02, 2017 01:55pm
good ...
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Jul 02, 2017 11:04pm
@ S. Peter, Canada... then it means you havent worked with educated class Pakistani people. For leaders.... i agree... but for people, you certainly worked with wrong ones, and i know what you or anyone would feel if they work with those corrupt people who represent my country. Rest assured, there is a lot of potential and brain we Pakistani have which had been suppressed by corruption.
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Jul 02, 2017 11:14pm
@W Shaikh Agreed.
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Jul 03, 2017 02:22am
@Last Word If they win the nation loses the whole process of accountability&the due process is proven faulty. Naked eye can tell the whole story. People must understand enemies of Pakistan want them to win so that the countries economy goes to the dogs &they walk escort free so that them or new political plunderers take their places.
If nation fails here as an institution,the entire system shall crumble spiraling down lack pack of cards.
Let's pray that the true accountability&justice shall be delivered. Justice delayed is justice denied.Wake up Pakistan&Pãkîstãñì loyalists from within and from without. Don't let the history blame the today's generation for tomorrow's impending sufferings.
Take notice of all that has been going wrong in the recent almost five decades. We can't go back to late 40's for what was done just after Pakistan's coming into existence. Take preventive steps now for larger interests of Pakistan and Pãkîstãñì popular comman-man today¬ wait until tomorrow?
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Jul 03, 2017 04:30am
As long as PML-N keeps throwing roadblocks and smoke screens, there will be no real conclusion or end to this investigation
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Jul 03, 2017 10:26am
The evidence presented by the respondents in PNAMA leaks will be relied upon to make decisions.We should wait a bit.
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Jul 05, 2017 03:08pm
JIT will not find anything new. The report will probably result in more time-consuming investigations(exactly what this country needs in these times *smh*). Then, elections will come, and since no electoral reforms and new limitations of constituencies has been made, the result will be the same as the last election. No matter how much the media generates hype for the JIT report, no drastic change will take place. 2018, here we go!!
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