PML-N leadership rejects JIT report as 'garbage'

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms and senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal on Monday termed the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) final report as garbage and said the ruling party rejects it.

The minister was addressing a press conference in the federal capital, flanked by other party members and ministers.

Ahsan said the party’s lawyers are analysing the report from all perspectives. 

“We will unveil the contradictions of this report in front of the Supreme Court,” he said.

'Not JIT but PTI report'

PML-N leader barrister Zafarullah Khan said that the report submitted to the apex court today was not a report by the JIT but of the PTI.

The JIT’s measure of recording and tapping phone calls is an illegal act, he further said.

'Will fully contest JIT report in SC'

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the government would contest the JIT report in the apex court, adding that the government has firm faith in the judiciary.

Asif added that he was under the impression that the report contained strong evidence, but it leaned heavily on Rehman Malik’s statements.

"This is witch-hunt not justice," said the defence minister.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the JIT report made one reminiscent of former military ruler Musharraf’s tenure, where baseless allegations were rampant.

Several things in the report are unbelievable and comical, said the federal minister.

He added that Hasan and Hussain Nawaz do not live in Pakistan and are overseas Pakistanis. 

Earlier today, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) submitted its final report to the Supreme Court in the Panama Leaks case.

The JIT has recommended filing of a reference against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons Hussain and Hasan Nawaz with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The JIT has observed major disparities in the finances of the Sharif family and their known and declared sources of income.