JIT on Panama Leaks: SC forms cell for probe coordination

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has established a special cell to mediate with the six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which will probe the allegations of financial irregularities and money laundering, allegedly involving Prime Minister and his family for establishing properties abroad.

Sources revealed that Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has constituted a special cell in the Supreme Court, which will keep liaison between the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and the apex court bench being constituted for receiving the report. It was learnt that Additional Registrar Muhammad Ali has been appointed as the head of the special bench who will be responsible for facilitating all communication between the JIT and the Supreme Court bench. Sources further revealed that deputy registrar and assistant registrar would extend their assistance to the special cell as well.

On April 20, a five-member larger bench of the apex court while announcing its verdict on Panama Leaks had ordered the formation of a JIT to investigate the matter. The court had ruled in the judgment that an investigation is required to probe the matter and ordered the formation of JIT headed by an official from Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) which will submit its report within 60 days.

The court had directed that the JIT shall submit its periodical reports every two weeks before a bench of this court constituted in this behalf. Additional Registrar Muhammad Ali neither denied nor confirmed the establishment of the Special Cell, simply saying he did not give anyone this news. “Neither I have this news nor did I give it to anyone,” he told The News and disconnected the phone call.