PM's cousin accuses Panama JIT member of harassment
May 25, 2017
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Tariq Shafi, cousin of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has accused a member of the Panama case joint investigation team (JIT) of harassing him.
Shafi's lawyer wrote a letter to JIT head, Wajid Zia, apprising him of mistreatment of his client by some members of his team. He stated that a JIT member threatened his client with serious consequences if didn't withdraw the affidavit submitted by him in the Supreme Court.
It is pertinent to note here that Tariq Shafi has submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that he was part of all transactions relating to sale of Dubai properties owned by Mian Sharif – father of PM Nawaz Sharif - and transfer of that money to Qatar.
The transactions form the money trail in the Panama Leaks case, which shows the money invested in offshore firms and other holdings of Sharif family was legally transferred.
The letter read that Tariq Shafi received a summon from the JIT on May 12 and shortened his stay in Saudi Arabia. He appeared before the team of investigators on May 15.
But, Shafi was issued another summon on May 16 in which a perception was tried to be given that he failed to timely appear before the JIT and bring required documents.
Shafi's counsel further stated in the letter that the documents being demanded by the JIT have already been presented, which are also part of court proceedings pertaining to the case.
Earlier today, PM’s son Hussain Nawaz expressed reservations over two members of the JIT - mandated by Supreme Court to probe the assets of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family.
Hussain Nawaz raised impartiality concerns on the representatives of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and State Bank of Pakistan.
The Supreme Court has also admitted a petition filed by Hussain Nawaz for hearing, in which he raised objection over inclusion of Amir Aziz of SBP and SECP's Bilal Rasool in the JIT.
A special bench of the apex court will hear the petition on Monday, May 29.
An earlier version of this report misstated that Tariq Shafi appeared before the JIT on May 16 and 17. The error is regretted.
