JIT used ‘Sir’ only for a retired general, not even for PM

ISLAMABAD: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) appeared selective in the use of words as it did not write the prefix “Sir” with any of the witnesses but Lt General (retd) Syed Amjad Ali.

The only person who was addressed by the JIT as “Sir” during the process of recording statement was NAB’s former chairman Lieutenant General (retd) Syed Amjad Ali whereas the rest of those who were summoned by the investigating body, even the prime minister, were not addressed as “Sir”.

The JIT summoned a total of 18 people, including a sitting prime minister of Pakistan, for recording of statement in the Panama Papers case. Out of the total 18, the JIT report has not mentioned or added the prefix “Sir” with 17.

The careful reading of the JIT investigation report, Volume II which consists of statements of the witnesses, suggests that the JIT was selective in using the word “Sir” with 17 witnesses including the prime minister.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appeared before the JIT on June 15, 2017 and recorded his statement in the Panama Papers case. The process of statement recording was followed by a question answer session. However, astonishingly, none of the JIT members addressed the prime minister as “Sir” during the question answer session. The same was repeated with other witnesses.

The transcript of the first question asked by the JIT members to former NAB chairman Lt General (retd) Syed Amjad Ali reads, “Sir, do you recall something by the name of Board Sheet?”

On the other hand, the transcript of question answer session of the JIT with the prime minister contains not a single word where he is addressed as “Sir”. The first question asked from the prime minister by the JIT members reads, “In your speeches you had mentioned that all record relating to Azizia and Gulf Steel was available but later your counsel stated in the Supreme Court that no such record was available. Can you explain this contradiction?”