Rehman Malik says he will tell the truth to JIT

PPP has decided not to politicise the issue; it seems Imran Khan has joined PPP

ISLAMABAD: Former interior minister and senior PPP leader Senator Abdul Rehman Malik Wednesday said he would appear before the Joint Investigation Team tomorrow (Friday) as a former additional director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), not as the PPP leader.

“The party has decided not to politicise this issue and I will appear before the JIT only to tell the facts and truth,” he said while addressing a press conference here after cutting the cake on the 64th birthday of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

Rehman Malik, who reached Pakistan to appear before the JIT on June 23, said whatever he said in the correspondence from abroad during his days of suspension, he did as the officer of the FIA and owns the report which he submitted to then president in late 90’s. “I will tell all the things to the JIT on merit of facts which I know,” he said.

To a question whether there is any deal between former president Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the senator said there is no deal or “Muk Muka”.

“My leadership, neither Asif Ali Zardari nor Bilawal Bhutto, has given any direction to me with regard to issue of appearance before the JIT and I will only tell facts to the JIT on merits and also will only tell which I know,” he said, and added that he did not have to take any revenge from anyone.

Rehman Malik said he knew all the details of the case which he will reveal before the JIT.  To a question on Hudaibya Papers, he said the five FIRs of Hudaibya Papers were filed and the case was in courts of law.

“I did the correspondence on this case from abroad as an officer of the FIA and its investigations were carried out in two parts,” he said.

Rehman Malik said he was examining the documents of Hudaibya Papers. Asked whether the Charter of Democracy is still valid between the PPP and PML-N, he said it was buried when Nawaz Sharif while wearing the black coat and tie went into the Supreme Court. “There is no link between Charter of Democracy and law,” he added.

He said Nawaz Sharif should also not make PanamaLeaks as a case of the PML-N and should defend the case through his lawyers, not through his party.

To a question with regard to his name in Panama Papers, Rehman Malik denied that his name appeared in it, saying that he did not own any offshore company. “If anyone proved my name in Panama Papers then I will resign from the Senate,” he added.

Rehman Malik said 10 years have passed, but the decision on the case of martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto has yet to come.

“I appeal to Chief Justice of Pakistan to supervise the case of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and proceedings should be held on daily basis,” he added.

He said investigations in case of martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto have been completed and all those who were involved in it were arrested. He said now the case is in hearing stage but so far no decision has been taken.

“I also appeal to the chief justice of Lahore High Court not to replace the judge as judges in the case were frequently changed,” he added.

He said the reference of judicial murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is also pending in the Supreme Court.

Rehman Malik also appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to file a request in the International Court of Justice for early hearing of the case of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. 

To a question on the future of the PPP, he said the future is bright as after the Eid many big names will join the party. “When I see people around Imran Khan, it seems Imran has joined the PPP,” he added.

He said during the PTI sit-in someone else wanted to act as an umpire, but Asif Ali Zardari turned out as umpire that foiled the attempt of destabilisation of democracy.