ISLAMABAD: Prime Minis­ter’s Special Assistant Asif Kirmani on Thursday accused the joint investigation team (JIT) of sensationalising the Panama Papers investigation.

Talking to reporters outside the JIT secretariat at the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA), he said: “Our hands are clean, we respect the institutions and we also want them to reciprocate.”

Mr Kirmani had accompanied Hassan Nawaz, the younger son of the prime minister, who came to the FJA to appear before the JIT for a second time. He criticised the JIT for sensationalising the probe, especially with regard to prime minister’s son Hussain Nawaz.

In a bombastic tone, he said the JIT had requisitioned an ambulance when Mr Hussain appeared to record his statement, trying to “create a scene from a James Bond movie”.

“We are not allowed to enter the FJA, it is under the JIT’s control. There is also watertight security in the premises, then how did the photograph of Hussain Nawaz leak out?” he asked media persons.

He urged the Supreme Court to take action on the leak, which came during the course of investigation and also criticised certain TV show hosts for portraying a confrontation among constitutional entities.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) did not wish any confrontation with any institution, insisting that the party respects all constitutional bodies.

Mr Kirmani said the PML-N has already expressed its concerns with regard to the ongoing investigation before the apex court.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2017