The Supreme Court of Pakistan Photo : Khalid Mahmood/Wikimedia
Raising a big question mark over the political future of Pakistan’s ruling Nawaz Sharif family, a Court-mandated Joint Investigation Team that looked into Panamagate allegations against the prime minister has recommended that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) file a reference against the accused.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons, Hussain and Hassan Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law, Capt Safdar, are also included in the names referred to NAB.
The Sharif family, however, has refused to accept the JIT’s decision and appears headed for a collision against institutions. The crisis is feared to negatively affect democracy.
“Significant gap/disparity amongst the known and declared sources of income and the wealth accumulated by the Respondent No. 1, 6, 7 and 8 have been observed,” said the investigation team in its closing remarks.
“The financial structure and health of the companies in Pakistan having linkages to the Respondents also do not substantiate the wealth of Respondents,” added the document.
The investigation team has recommended action under Section 9 of the National Accountability Bureau.
“Moreover, irregular movement of huge amounts in shape of loans and gifts from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-based company (Hill Metals Establishment), United Kingdom based companies (Flagship Investments Limited and others) and United Arab Emirates based Company (Capital FZE) to Respondent No. 1, Respondent No. 7 and Pakistan based companies of Respondent No. 1 and family have been highlighted.”
The JIT has submitted its final probe report to the Supreme court.
After submission of the report, the bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and including Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, ordered the registration of FIR against Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Chairman Zafar Hijazi.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had informed the court over the weekend that its inquiry had found Hijazi guilty of tempering records of SECP’s probe into the Chaudhry Sugar Mills, owned by the Sharif family.
Formed on May 5 in light of the Supreme Court’s April 20 judgment, the JIT was tasked to ascertain the money trail of the Sharif family-owned properties in Park Lane, London.
The JIT included State Bank of Pakistan’s Amer Aziz, Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s Bilal Rasool, Military Intelligence’s Brig Kamran Khursheed, Inter Services Intelligence’s Brig (retd) Nauman Saeed and National Accountability Bureau’s Irfan Mangi.
