JIT prepares questionnaire for Al-Thani family

NAB provides record of Hudaibya Paper Mills

ISLAMABAD: The Panama Papers case Joint Investigation Team (JIT) is all set to dispatch a questionnaire to Al-Thani family to determine the real ownership of London Flats owned by the Sharif family. 

Officials facilitating the JIT confided to this correspondent that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also being consulted in this regard.

“We are finalising a few questions for Al-Thani family that could help us know facts about the London property. Even two members of the JIT can visit them [family] in Doha if they agree to,” said a senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) who was not allowed to talk to the media.

Questions are being drafted in light of the Supreme Court question “whether sudden appearance of the letters of Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani is a myth or a reality? 

How bearer shares crystallized into flats, added the officials. Who, in fact, is the real and beneficial owner of Nielsen Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited is another question to ask from the royal family, officials went on to say. 

A questionnaire is also being dispatched to Tariq Shafi and Shezi Nackvi family as well, they added.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday provided record of Hudaibya Paper Mills case to Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted by the Supreme Court to probe PanamaLeaks case.

The JIT members are also facing a unique challenge how to contact the countries where Sharifs have been doing business after 70s as no MoU or agreement had been signed with these countries for sharing documents pertaining to the under question properties once owned by the Sharifs. 

Officials also disclosed that the JIT will also approach Panama authorities about authenticity of documents of offshore companies owned by Sharifs next week. 

On May 10, a session of the JIT was held to decide on the investigation method for the Panama Papers case. 

The meeting was headed by FIA Additional Director Wajid Zia. The team of investigators decided to seek assistance of FIA and experts from the private sector. 

The JIT will submit its detailed report to the SC on May 22. Earlier, the JIT members had met at the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad, which has now been declared the JIT Secretariat.  The members have also moved their offices to the location ahead of investigation.