ISLAMABAD: Observing that the probe was headed in the right direction, the Supreme Court on Monday said it would not extend the original 60-day deadline given to the six-man joint investigation team (JIT) formed in the wake of the Panama Papers case.

On Monday, the JIT furnished sealed envelopes containing its preliminary report, in two volumes, which it is required to submit to the court every fortnight.

In its report, sources said, the JIT informed the court that it had written to Qatar through diplomatic channels to ask Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani when he would be available to record his statement.

Led by Federal Investi­gation Agency (FIA) Additional Director Gen­eral Wajid Zia, the JIT members entered the jam-packed Courtroom No. 3 under police protection.

Team seeks statement from Sharifs’ Qatari benefactor

The three-judge Supreme Court special bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, turned down PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry’s request to share the report with the party.

Justice Khan, in turn, asked him to cite any law that allows the sharing of information during the course of the investigation.

“This is a very serious and solemn proceeding and the people will find out about the outcome of the probe when the time comes,” observed Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan.

The highlight of Monday’s proceedings was the presence of PTI leaders Imran Khan, Jahangir Tareen, Ishaq Khakwani, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Naeemul Haq. From the government side, Information Minister Marriyum Aurengzeb, Talal Chaudhry and Daniyal Aziz were in attendance.

Talking to reporters after the proceedings, Mr Khan appreciated the court’s directions that the JIT should finish the probe in 60 days. He stressed that the court had held that these investigations were “criminal proceedings”, and deplored that a prime minister facing criminal investigations was still sticking to his office.

When the hearing commenced, Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf took the rostrum, but Justice Saeed pointed towards Wajid Zia and asked about the preliminary report.

Subsequently, envelopes were presented to the bench and unsealed for the perusal of the judges, who took some time to go through the report.

Justice Saeed observed in clear terms that the court was not dissatisfied with the report. He said the bench knew the JIT was heading in the right direction.

“We have a lot of confidence in your team,” Justice Saeed said, adding that the court did not want to make any comment at this stage.

The bench also reiterated that it would not tolerate any interference in the investigations, which should be completed in time.

While dictating its order, the court acknowledged receipt of the JIT report, but then ordered it to be re-sealed and submitted to the registrar. The next report is due before the court on June 7.

Talking to reporters after proceedings, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry claimed the ruling family would not seek any immunity from JIT investigations. However, he demanded that no discrimination should be meted out to the sons of the prime minister, who were non-resident Pakistanis.

JIT report

In its first progress report, the JIT informed the court it had recorded the statements of three people, including Mian Tariq Shafi, whose name echoed in the Supreme Court during the Panama Papers case hearings.

A cousin of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Mr Shafi claimed to have sold the Gulf Steel Mills and deposited 12 million dirhams with the Qatari ruling family. A director of the Ittefaq Foundries, he was one of the co-accused in the Hudaibya Paper Mills case and was acquitted in a corruption reference in May 2015.

Sources said Mr Shafi apprised the JIT that he deposited 12 million dirhams in cash with the Qatari ruling family following the sale of the Gulf Steel Mills in 1980.

Mr Shafi said he had deposited the sum with Sheikh Fahad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani after receiving each instalment from Mohammad Abdullah Kayed Ahli.

Mr Ahli was the owner of the Ahli Steel Company, Dubai, in which Mr Shafi was a 25pc shareholder. Following an agreement on April 14, 1980 between the two, the shares were sold and a net aggregate sum of 12 million dirhams was received by Mr Shafi over the course of the year.

The sum was deposited with the Al-Thani family on the instructions of his uncle, the late Mian Mohammad Sharif, the prime minister’s father.

At the time, Fahad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani was frequently in Dubai in connection with his business concerns and received the cash payment.

Mr Shafi claimed that Mian Sharif had made him a shareholder in Gulf Steel out of love and affection in 1974, when he was only 19 years old.

The JIT has also recorded the statements of former National Accountability Bureau chairman retired Lt Gen Munir Hafeez and Umer Cheema of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2017