Panama probe: JIT grills Hussain Nawaz for five hours

Published May 30, 2017
Hussain Nawaz arrives to appear before the JIT formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the Sharif's family offshore firms and properties linked with the Panama leaks. —Reuters
Hussain Nawaz arrives to appear before the JIT formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the Sharif's family offshore firms and properties linked with the Panama leaks. —Reuters

Hussain Nawaz, the elder son of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday appeared again before the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the Panama Papers case, reported DawnNews.

Hussain Nawaz was grilled by the JIT members for almost five hours at the National Judicial Academy. Earlier, he had appeared before the Supreme Court appointed JIT on Sunday May 28.

The premier's son had refused to answer any question put forth by the JIT, saying that the JIT's status was 'sub judice' as he had already filed a petition before the apex court regarding two of its constituents.

On Monday, the apex court turned down Hussain's objections against two of the JIT members. He, through his council, had argued that the two called him a liar during the interrogations. He had also asked the country's top court to disassociate the two from the JIT.

He had objected to the inclusion of two members — Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s Bilal Rasool and State Bank of Pakistan’s Amer Aziz — accusing them of being close to the PML-N’s political rivals. The three-member bench of the court declared that the JIT could not be reconstituted merely over reservations.

The premier's son warns that he will approach the court again if dealt unfairly. —Online
The premier's son warns that he will approach the court again if dealt unfairly. —Online

The JIT had issued another summon on May 28, directing Hussain Nawaz to appear before the team again on Tuesday along with all relevant records, documents and material for the recording of his statement and an examination by the JIT.

Following his hours-long interview by the JIT, Hussain told journalists that he responded to all the questions asked by the JIT members. He further said that he was being questioned under a legal process and he was responding to the questions to prove that he respected the law.

He, however, made it clear, "I will approach the court again if I felt that I was not being dealt fairly."

In response to a question, Hussain said that he will appear again before the JIT if asked and added that he was not served with any new summon as yet.

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