ISLAMABAD: The joint investigation team (JIT) probing allegations of money laundering against the Sharif family has issued a summon to former interior minister Rehman Malik.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senator, who is currently in the UK, has written to the JIT expressing his inability to appear before it on June 13, and has asked that he be allowed to appear at a later date.

Sources said that the former interior minister had responded to the JIT via email, and had sent them a scanned copy of a letter, duly signed by him, requesting an alternative date.

In the letter, Mr Malik acknowledges receipt of the summon and explains that because he has been out of the country since June 9, it is not possible for him to join the investigation on June 13.

PPP senator asked to bring along 1998 FIA report on Sharifs’ alleged money laundering

According to the summon issued to the former interior minister, Mr Malik has been asked to bring along records related to his investigation of money laundering allegations against the Sharif family.

“Please bring along a certified copy of your report commonly known as the ‘Rehman Malik Report’ along with all relevant records/documents/material,” reads the summon issued to the PPP senator.

In 2012, Mr Malik held a press conference on the report, urging the apex court to take notice of the Sharifs’ money laundering. At the time, he even volunteered to appear as a witness in the case.

Mr Malik, who enjoyed complete authority over the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) during the PPP’s second term, prepared the investigation report on Sept 24, 1998 while he was additional director general and, after the change of regime, submitted the report to then president Rafique Tarar.

The report alleged that the Sharifs accumulated wealth by evading taxes and import duties, obtaining kickbacks on illegal grants and privatisation of public property and money laundering.

It also accused Nawaz Sharif of owning huge sums of money in the form of foreign exchange and property, primarily in Switzerland and the UK. Between 1980-90, when Mr Sharif was finance minister and later chief minister of Punjab, the number of industrial units owned by his family increased from one to nine. However, during his first stint as prime minister (1990-93), the number of industrial units owned by him rose to 30.

The report alleged that a massive amount of money was sent from Pakistan to the Bank of Oman in the UAE and elsewhere to be laundered. The money was converted into foreign currency and repatriated in the name of the 43 members of the Sharif family.

The report accused Mr Sharif of laundering this money in bulk under the Economic Reforms Act 1992. To do so, he utilised the services of a family friend, Javed Kayani.

The report alleged that Mr Kayani opened another set of accounts at the Bank of America in the names of Kashif Masood Qazi, Sikandra Masood Qazi and Nuzhat Gohar Qazi. These were allegedly used as collateral by the Sharif family for the sanction of a loan for Hudabiya Engineering Limited.

The JIT has also summoned Javed Kayani and Kashif Masood Qazi. Mr Kayani appeared before the JIT but reportedly denied the allegations.

Mr Qazi, a British citizen of Pakistani origin, has refused to come to Pakistan and testify in this case over security concerns.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2017