JIT report not the final word on Panama case, says Asma Jahangir
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Human rights lawyer and activist Asma Jahangir on Monday said that the Panamagate joint investigation team's (JIT) report cannot be taken as the final word on the Panamagate case.
Speaking in the show Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, Jahangir said that it is understood that the Supreme Court cannot reach a final verdict based solely on the JIT report. She also said that it is not important for the Supreme Court to agree with JIT's findings.
The human rights activist said that since Article 10(a) is now part of the Constitution, it means that there will be a trial. Article 10(a) gives citizens of Pakistan the right to free trial.
"Now the question is where will the Supreme Court send it for trial. If it is held in an apex court, there will be no time for appeal," she said.
She further said that since the JIT was controversial, it will not be fair to take its report as the final word.
"It was being said that JIT will not be able to work until Nawaz Sharif resigns," Jahangir recalled. "But they have, as you said, submitted a damning report."
She, however, criticised the courts for not taking note of Sharif family's financial irregularities earlier.
"If they committed any financial crimes, courts should have stepped in then instead of waiting for Panama Papers to be released."
"The media was constantly creating the impression of [the government being] a mafia. These claims have made the JIT controversial," she added.
In an interview with Newsweek Pakistan, Jahangir claimed that the Supreme Court has not "thought [the matter] through legally".
"This [JIT report] is the equivalent of a police investigation and people cannot be convicted after a police investigation," she insisted. "However, they can be accused or fined."
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Comments (54) Closed
Jul 11, 2017 06:10pm
Mam NS in trouble next there will be next JIT for zardari ...
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Jul 11, 2017 06:11pm
atleast she is not denying Nawaz and Co not corrupt rather this should have happened a lot earlier. Kudos to Supreme Court judges and the JIT team.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:14pm
Excellent interpretation of circumstantional law of jungle - as long as we have such a logic n experts in our judicial system, no one ever be held accountable, espacially individuals, groups or parties with un-limited funds on their disposal. Keep arresting poor n fill the jails. Thank you Ms. Jahangir
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Jul 11, 2017 06:16pm
I am lost
"This [JIT report] is the equivalent of a police investigation and people cannot be convicted after a police investigation," she insisted. "However, they can be accused or fined."
Is n't a person fined after getting convicted?
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Jul 11, 2017 06:17pm
All faces are being exposed one by one
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Jul 11, 2017 06:22pm
Who is going to approve or reject JIT report Supreme Court or ??
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Jul 11, 2017 06:22pm
Anything can be made controversial.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:23pm
She is only making a legal point and I am sure that the legal team advising Sharif family would be telling them the same too.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:23pm
And who is Asma Jahangir to criticise the Supreme Court, made up of the finest legal minds in the country? Whenever this nation is faced with a crisis, Ms Jahangir suddenly pops up out of nowhere and throws her support behind the actual wrongdoers.
Hasan
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Jul 11, 2017 06:23pm
SC and JIT's finding are substantial and correct. There are so many other issues facing our poor public that these Human Rights Activists can assist rather than getting involved to safe riches of Pakistan.
What if these riches and corrupt politicians right from the beginning have acted honestly and stayed away from self serving?
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Jul 11, 2017 06:23pm
JIT is not at all controversial though PML-N tried to make it so.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:24pm
I will salute Asma Jahangir when she will lead a campaign against corrupt politicians
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Jul 11, 2017 06:29pm
@Khan She is just interpreting the existing law. If you read the penal code, and how a person is to be convicted, there is a procedure and she is just elaborating on that. I said it before and I will say it again, it was foolish of the JIT to not interview the qatari prince. They have handed over NS a very big loophole to argue in the court. The JIT should instead have interviewed the prince and followed the money trail originating from him so that NS wouldnt have had the excuse of "material witness" being ignored by the investigating team.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:34pm
Suprem C and JIT's finding are substantial and correct. There are so many other issues facing our poor public that these Human Rights Activists can assist rather than getting involved to safe riches of Pakistan. What if these riches and corrupt politicians right from the beginning have acted honestly and stayed away from self serving?What you say AJ?
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Jul 11, 2017 06:34pm
Ms. Asma Jahangir please let the world know whether JIT findings are factual or false ? leave aside whether controversial or not being lawyer you should know that every criminal try to make the things complicated and controversial it is not new
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Jul 11, 2017 06:38pm
SC and JIT's finding are substantial and correct. There are so many other issues facing our poor public that these Human Rights Activists can assist rather than getting involved to safe riches of Pakistan. What if these riches and corrupt politicians right from the beginning have acted honestly and stayed away from self serving?
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Jul 11, 2017 06:38pm
Agree with Asma Jahangir. These are not even findings, these are merely allegations.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:38pm
I think we are very emotional people and any thing opposition says against the sitting government is automatically true. This is a legal matter and there are many discrepancies and gaps in the report.The whole case can be thrown out if a fair trial is held.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:39pm
You are great, We love you Nawaz
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Jul 11, 2017 06:42pm
@khan - No we don't.
Only those who are corrupt or their benefactors will say that.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:46pm
In all fairness SC should constitute JIT for Iman and Zardari also to ensure that this accountability should not be against one Individual , otherwise it will loose its credibility .
Syed Naseem Ahmed
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Jul 11, 2017 06:47pm
A sane voice finally.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:51pm
I am and many like me are not surprised by this statement of yours.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:53pm
Yes the investigation of JIT can be termed as the investigation carried by police but one point is still there that the investigation were ordered by the SC and it were carried on by people selected thoughtfully.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:55pm
@Shaukat Ali Khan
Even with the forged documents (verified by international investigative agency in UK) which are submitted by Sharif's themselves :) just saying.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:57pm
"JIT report not the final word on Panama case, says Asma Jahangir"
Madam there is no need to mention this, everyone knows this well. JIT was entrusted with a task of collecting true evidences through cross examination, correspondences with concerned, studying old records & gathering true information from as many sources as required to answer the 13 questions set by the Supreme Court. to ascertain the facts regarding financial resources, sources, trail of its movement & true ownership of the off-shore companies & expensive flats in UK. The JIT did work hard & honestly towards fulfilling its responsibilities and at the end submitted its reports to the SC. The final verdict will be delivered by the SC after going through the findings of the JIT.
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Jul 11, 2017 06:58pm
Bias comments from a pro Noon league supporter.
Let the supreme court decide who are the culprits
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Jul 11, 2017 07:05pm
@Ahsan gul PM position is not a birth right or human right issue, as in monarchy. To give jail time you need trial.
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Jul 11, 2017 07:08pm
@Mango man To strip off power or putting on ECL trial is needed. To give jail time , trial is needed.
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Jul 11, 2017 07:09pm
If it was for lawyers, there would never be a final word. What is really mind boggling are the justifications advanced as to why JIT is controversial.
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Jul 11, 2017 07:10pm
What about the Human rights of JIT members who are being threatened by PML-N honchos. Human rights does not hinder that someone found to be an ELITE embezzler can be exempt from being prosecuted on charges. You can throw all the technicalities but at the end of the day Nawaz family will have to stand in the court of Law to respond to charges. In my opinion the JIT investigation has enough evidence to prove them guilty.
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Jul 11, 2017 07:13pm
@Mango man SECP mans help to Nawaz family to tamper records will lead to conviction and barring from politics.
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Jul 11, 2017 07:19pm
@Khan She is always vocal against anything which seems to benefit Pakistan. If earlier courts and institutions did not do the desired let the present judiciary take a start in the most difficult situation and accused instead of providing proof to prove themselves innocent did their best to hinder judicial process. Its not IK's issue madam, its the desire of majority of Pakistanis to see wrong doers behind the bars
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Jul 11, 2017 07:24pm
i just get bluffed each time she comes up with bias and derogatory statements and hiding facts. was she even existed in Pakistan to see how many sacrifices and pressure IK had to put on government and SC to just take the case.
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Jul 11, 2017 07:39pm
Every body knows that.
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Jul 11, 2017 07:44pm
Aa a Human Rights lawyer she is obliged to speak for the rights of comman man. However, in this case NS is not a common man. Fyi, if you are not sure, he is the PM of the country. Enough evidence has been collected to disqualify him. Even if he is not disqualified, he can not do his job as PM because he will be distracted. Therefore, he should resign. When he becomes a common man, make sure that his fundamental rights are not violated during criminal proceedings against him. Cheers
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Jul 11, 2017 07:53pm
@Hasaan
You don't understand the intricacies of law. She is right. Investigative report, whether from detectives, policemen or investigating team is a thorough preliminary report based on which an indictment can be brought. This would be considered like an ilzam (though with quite a bit odd evidence). Once the decision to prosecute is taken then a trial ensues. Having proven in court makes one a convict (mujrim) following which a sentence is granted.
A case can be started on minimum ilzam like in many cases, this particular one has quite sufficient basis to advance to a trial. Even though the JIT didn't interview the Qatari prince he can provide evidence during the trial. Had they brought evidence from Qatari prince then the premise of a strong case would've been affected. In short without the Qatari questioning the case is strong to start a trial, without it the premises to start a trial were weak.
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Jul 11, 2017 07:55pm
what a shame a person like you talking so low
As lawyer you should have given more responsible statement.
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Jul 11, 2017 07:56pm
I am disappointed by the weird ideas of Asma.
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Jul 11, 2017 08:26pm
Now start investigation on the JIT team .
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Jul 11, 2017 08:28pm
Asma Jahangir sahiba too is misleading the nation on this count by saying contradicting things in one go. She is of the opinion that the JIT is controversial which would not be acceptable to anyone. How the JIT can be termed as controvertial despite the truth that it has been formed not other than the apex court of the country agreed upon by all stakeholders. I dare to ask her if it was not real than in her view what is the truth? Secondly, she says that JIT report is like the invention conducted by Police and as such can not be relied upon to convict people. Here is again a tinge of controversy and confusion because it is the FIR prepared and submitted by the Police which becomes the case of the conviction of most of the criminals. The interesting point is the fact that in the present JIT three investigating agencies were of the sensitive type and suspecting their way of doing things tantamount to rejecting the whole process of the sticking to the precepts of law itself.
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Jul 11, 2017 09:33pm
Way to go JIT - This lady needs to retire...
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Jul 11, 2017 10:10pm
She should not be discussing the matter is in the court, SC is capable of more than she think, its all depend on what's in the report !
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Jul 12, 2017 12:59am
Here she goes! Trying to be relevant but unsuccessful.
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Jul 12, 2017 05:22am
Ms.Asma Jahangir you think you are smartest character in Pakistan.By the way what are you trying to prove,you think that Nawaz Sharif and family are not corrupt,and all the documents collected by JIT are for fun.A lot of time,money and efforts has been spent for these reports.Each and every person in Pakistan is fully convinced that Nawaz and family have looted the wealth of Pakistan ,He should be immediately put behind the bar.I salute JIT team for their excellent team work.Ms Asma Jahangir pl.do appreciate if some good things are happening in our great country.Pakistan shall be on road to progress provided we are able to control the corruption and money laundering.
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Jul 12, 2017 07:07am
i always admired her. She is behaving in a strange way. I feel pity for her now.
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Jul 12, 2017 07:22am
@Hasan She is demand fair trail of NS or any other party. she is lawyer .
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Jul 12, 2017 11:24am
She is getting exposed
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Jul 12, 2017 01:52pm
We apprrciate JIT
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Jul 12, 2017 02:10pm
@Ahmed Agreed!
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Jul 12, 2017 03:44pm
@Khan Mam NS in trouble next there will be next JIT for zardari ...Well said YAAR.
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Jul 12, 2017 08:00pm
Asma has harmed more to the nation by issuing useless statements.
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Jul 13, 2017 01:44am
You are critic by nature which is fine, but as Shakespeare said 'All is well that ends well' or in Urdu 'Deir Aya Durust Aya'
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Jul 13, 2017 09:23am
It seems, all corrupts of Pakistan have got into same boat, and now crying and shouting, fearing that their turn might come sooner or later.
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