Imran objects to Maryam’s protocol at JIT

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Wednesday strongly objected to the ‘protocol’ given to Maryam Nawaz as she appeared before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing PanamaLeaks case against the Sharif family.

“Pakistani nation must decide once and for all whether we are a democracy or ‘badshahat’ (monarchy),” Imran said in a Twitter message. In another message, he wrote, “Inexplicable why private citizen Maryam getting official protocol with police saluting as he goes to appear before criminal investigation.”

Imran wondered “what formula was used by these boys to accumulate a vast fortune so quickly” and himself answered, “corruption and money laundering on an unprecedented scale”. Meanwhile, at a news conference, the PTI information secretary Shafqat Mehmood said they (Sharif family) ask what was the charge against them and wondered, they did not know about it even after passage of a year?

“Maryam Nawaz Sharif after her appearance before the JIT asked  what are we accused of. Let us tell you! ‘You are being called to clarify your name as owner in Nescol and Nielson enterprise. Hassan Nawaz being a student became billionaire all of a sudden in 2001. You are under investigation for corruption and money laundering,” he said while responding to Maryam’s media talk.

The PTI leader noted that Maryam Nawaz narrated the repeated baseless narrative of victimisation, of conspiracy and democratic credentials and innocence but ignored 13 questions of the Supreme Court.

“Maryam Nawaz along with her other siblings again needs a briefing about their father’s amassed wealth worth billions abroad. Nawaz Sharif is being investigated as he has a direct connection in all this saga of corruption. His family business turned into an empire after he held public offices. And surprisingly Sharifs are asking ‘What's the charge on us?’,” he mocked.

Shafqat cautioned that the attempts to intimidate the JIT members was a shameful and reprehensible act. From the onset, he said, the PTI has demanded that the prime minister should resign to prevent the investigators and all state institutions involved from undue and unethical pressure to comply by the PM. He urged the superior judiciary to take notice of the threats hurled at the JIT and employees of the state institutions who were doing their job. He went on to add that today the PML-N goons have surpassed all limits to intimidate the JIT. He stated that since members of Sharif family are being called by JIT, they are so obsessed with Imran that they start abusing and hurling allegations against Imran burying their heads in sand over the 13 questions asked by Supreme Court.

“Imran rightly says that we are going through a transition. The logical end of this process of accountability is imperative for the sustenance of democracy in Pakistan and it is stupefying that every time accountability is demanded the PML-N rants that the state and sovereignty of Pakistan is in danger,” he noted.

The PTI leader pointing towards the PML-N’s insistence on Qatari prince’s evidence said that those, who were implying JIT to go to the Qatari prince for his statement, should suggest the prince to provide documented evidences and if he has the details of banking transactions then he should provide it to the team at the first hand. He said it's the responsibility of Sharif family to bring the details of transactions before the JIT for cross examination.

PTI deputy secretary general Murad Saeed said that it was high time now that the corrupt be held accountable for all their decades’ long corruption. Commenting on the ‘lavish entry’ of Maryam Nawaz in the Judicial Academy, Murad Saeed stated that Sharif family failed in justifying their four flats, how will they be able to justify the exorbitant luxury cars to their name.

He further stated that Panama story was famous across the world. He criticised Maryam Nawaz stating that under which capacity she has asked questions from the JIT. “She was appearing before the JIT as a criminal,” he added.

The PTI Senator Shibli Faraz questioned the official protocol granted to Maryam Nawaz on her appearance before the JIT. He maintained that being a private citizen, Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s official protocol was a plunder into the taxpayers’ money. “This indicates PML-N’s commitment and love for status quo,” he stated.