ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday claimed that the prime minister’s counsel had presented a money trail of the Sharif family’s overseas investments and that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had not sought immunity in the Panama Papers case.

Pakistan Tekreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, on the other hand, claimed that apart from a letter submitted by a Qatari prince, the government did not have any documents showing the money trail.

Speaking at a press conference held in the Press Information Department (PID), Mussadiq Malik, adviser to the prime minister, said Mr Sharif had not sought immunity in the case. Furthermore, it was the parliament’s privilege to not submit the prime minister’s speech in parliament as evidence in court.

He said the PTI was criticising the prime minister for using the law to shield himself in the Pana­magate case. “Is hiding behind a law an offence?” he questioned.

Imran says no documents apart from Qatari prince’s letter were presented

What should the PM do if not use the law to defend himself, asked Mr Malik. “Should we hide behind terrorism, public meetings, processions or a container?” he quipped.

The adviser said that the PM’s counsel had proved on Tuesday that there were no contradictions in the speech he had delivered in parliament.

Regarding Article 66 of the Constitution (that requires parliamentarians to be sagacious, pious and righteous), the adviser said it was the parliament’s prerogative to take action against a member. However, Mr Khan was targeting institutions formed in the wake of numerous sacrifices for the restoration of democracy. “He should not do this for his own interest or vengeance...as it could affect the parliamentary system,” he pressed.

Speaking on this occasion, PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz said a bank guarantee of 12 million dirhams of the Union Bank of Switzerland had been presented in court to substantiate the Sharif family’s stance that they had obtained that money by selling a factory in UAE in 1980. “The money was later transferred to the UK for the London property transaction...This is the money trail,” he said.

Regarding the allegation of tax evasion, he said in 1980 the money had belonged to Mian Sharif, the PM’s father. Tax evasion that had happened back then had nothing to do with the prime minister, he said.

Mr Khan, in his petition, had asked the court to probe alleged money laundering and tax evasion by the prime minister. “He has now changed his stance and is demanding action against the prime minister for his ‘misstatement’ before parliament,” he added.

On the other hand, the PTI chief Imran Khan said the PM’s lawyer had demanded immunity for his speech in the Parliament House instead of arguing on court proceedings. “In a democracy, the opposition always asks the government for answers. Here, cases against us have been opened in the Election Commission to subdue our voice,” he said.

Had Mr Sharif realised, when he was making that speech in parliament, that he could be taken to court, Mr Khan asked. “Now the prime minister is demanding that his speech be ignored.”

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2017