Rehman Malik presents proofs before JIT

ISLAMABAD: Without mentioning Imran Khan, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Rehman Malik Friday said that someone was claiming the accountability of the Sharif family was an outcome of his struggle but had forgot it was he (Malik) who “prepared the pitch for the ground.”

Talking to the media after appearing before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing Sharif Family in Panama Papers case, he said some people were raising slogans that they would win the match but in the end PPP would come out victorious. He said that he will make the goal.

Former Interior Minister Rehman Malik later presented a much-trumpeted 200-page report regarding Hudaibiya Paper Mills, which he compiled in his personal capacity, to the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), raising questions whether this unofficial report can be used as an evidence against the Sharif family or it needs thorough investigation for preparation of a new official inquiry based document, the sources told The News here on Friday.

“Rehman Malik appeared before the JIT, recorded his statement regarding alleged money laundering through Hudaibiya Paper Mills and presented his report that was also sent by him to then President Rafiq Tarar in September 1988, seeking a high level inquiry against then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,” the sources said.

The sources said Rehman Malik briefed the JIT members about the investigation process adopted by him and his associates to identify the alleged money laundering through Hudaibiya Paper Mills and find out the money trail of the London Mayfair flats.

Rehman Malik remained before the JIT for two hours.

He informed the JIT that the then Nawaz-led government did not take any action on the basis of his report and instead dismissed him from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in October 1998.

It is pertinent to mention here that Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa during the course of hearing of the Panama Papers case had observed that the report could not meet its logical conclusion as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) did not file an appeal against the Lahore High Court’s order to quash the reference against the Sharif family on technical grounds in 2014.

The counsel of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a case file submitted to the Supreme Court presented extracts from the Rehman Malik’s report that according to him covered the following areas including money laundering by the Sharif Family through Foreign Exchange Bearer Certificates (FEBC) and Digital Bearer Certificates (DBC); transfer of money through Hawalla Group of Peshawar; import of wheat through Sheikh Saeed Muhammad, a Washington based friend of Nawaz Sharif; bungling in the award of contract to M/S Daewoo of South Korea for the construction of Lahore-Islamabad based Motorway; opening of foreign currency accounts in the names of fake persons for converting black money into white; malpractices in the sanctioning of sugar mills; privatisation of DG Khan Cement Plant to a close family friend and partner of Mian Nawaz Sharif; extraction of loan from 31 development finance institutions by the Sharif family; extraction of loan of 15 million dollar for Brother Sugar Mills from Faysal Islamic Bank in lieu of permission to open additional branches of Faysal Islamic Bank; ownership of off-shore companies of Sharif family in British Virgin Islands and Jersey Island; bungling in the privatisation of Muslim Commercial Bank; and extraction of heavy amounts from Mehran Bank.

As a result of the investigation carried out by the FIA, two cases against Hudaibiya Engineering Limited and Hudaibiya Paper Mills were registered on the complaint of Income Tax Authorities and challans were submitted before the Banking Court.

Rehman Malik is currently a member of the Senate for the second time in a row from the PPP-Parliamentarians. At present, he chairs the Senate Committee on Interior and Narcotics while being a member of several others.

Earlier, talking to the media former Interior Minister Rehman Malik said he has owned his report regarding money laundering through Hudaibiya Paper Mills and confirmed its each and every word before the JIT.

“I am here neither to trap someone nor to save anyone. I am doing justice with my profession and the nation as well. I would tender resignation if my name is found involved in any offshore company,” he said. 

He said that he had submitted before the JIT his two letters written to former president Rafiq Tarar, adding “I have submitted the relevant documents so there will be no need to get more evidence against the Sharif family.” 

Rehman Malik said he has provided answers to each and every question raised by the JIT and in his opinion the probe body comprising professional and competent people would not do injustice to anyone. 

He said: “An international investigation into the scams against the Sharif family was carried out by him and his associates including Deputy Director Waseem Ahmad, Deputy Director Ahmad Riaz Shaikh, Additional Director General Basharat Sajjad, Kamran Attaullah, Javaid Hasan, Ghulam Asghar Jatoi, Shaukat Ali, Sanaullah and Sajjad Haider.”

“When I wrote letter to then president the incumbent government suspended four FIA’s officials other than him in November 1998, including Shaikh Ahmad Riaz, Sajjad Haider, Ijaz Ahmad Bajwa and Sanaullah. So if any one says that the investigation was a private affair then it will be his own imagination,” he said.

Rehman Malik said he asks the question from law enforcement agencies and the legal fraternity whether First Information Report (FIR) can be a private affair because there were almost fifteen inquiries and five FIR’s were registered and presented in the courts.

“The FIA conducted hundreds of inquiries under my supervision but I don’t know who were the officers who had done this work so if any one of them wants to appear before the probe body then he is ready to pay fare and make arrangements in this respect,” he said.

Former interior minister said “His party leaders Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari have allowed him to appear before the JIT and present relevant documents related to the inquiry carried out by him.” 

He pointed out that there are many politicians who have been constantly trying to score points on the basis of this report and claiming to be winning this match but it is PPP that has prepared the real pitch for this case.  

He also criticised propaganda against his party, saying his political opponents had been claiming since the past 15 days that the Pakistan People’s Party has entered into a deal to save Nawaz Sharif.

He said he had requested for a special security but did not get it and even he came to appear before the JIT driving his own car.

Asked about his own name on the PanamaLeaks, Rehman Malik angrily replied that his name was not in the PanamaLeaks. “I once again challenged to prove it that there was my name in Panama. I will resign but if any one asks this question, I will consider to take to the court of law,” he warned.

Earlier on reaching the Federal Judicial Academy, he had said during a media talk that he would do justice today with the nation as well as his profession.

“After the documents I provide them [JIT] today, there will be no need [to get more evidence in the case],” he claimed. 

He said he was taking two letters to the then president and necessary evidence [to the JIT], and also named the 10 investigators who were part of his team when he investigated Nawaz Sharif in the mid 1990s. “I will only come out after the JIT is satisfied with all questions related to money laundering,” he said added that,”I’m a hockey player and today I will score a goal.”

Meanwhile, Captain (Retd) Muhammad Safdar would appear before the JIT today (Saturday) and record his statement regarding the investigation into the Panama Leaks case being carried out on the directives of the Supreme Court.