Those searching for approver will be in the dock tomorrow: Hussain

ISLAMABAD: Hussain Nawaz, son of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday said those trying to find an approver will be standing in the courts tomorrow.

He said the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has no evidence against the Sharif family and it has been trying to create doubts and smokescreen following the tactics adopted in the past on various occasions.

Talking to the media persons after his appearance before the JIT for the sixth time, he asked “what is the connection of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with the Panama Papers case, and if there is any evidence in this respect, then it should be made public”.

“If there is any evidence against the Sharif family members, then punish us. But if you don’t have, then stop levelling allegations and creating doubts in the minds of people,” he said.

Hussain Nawaz said it was their joint decision to extend full cooperation to the JIT due to which they appeared before the probe body, faced interrogation, recorded their statements and submitted all the documents sought by it. He said he thinks that there was no need to summon him six times because only two appearances were enough for the investigation that was carried out by the JIT, adding, “No one can find any kind of evidence against us because we have done nothing wrong.”

The PM’s son said disrespect to the mandate of the people should not be allowed and they would not allow it because when nothing is found, then some quarters adopt old tactics like pursuing doctrine of necessity, registering cases like plane hijacking case and hanging leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “We will not allow the formation of a new plane hijacking case,” he said.

Hussain Nawaz said he still stands by the statement he made on day one that they would not find evidence against him and his family members simply because they had committed no crime.

“I want to make it clear that if you (JIT) do anything against the law, then time will come when you will also face cases in the courts. What happened to those who registered the plane hijacking case against the elected prime minister, so everyone should keep the past experiences in mind,” he said.

Earlier, Hussain Nawaz appeared before the JIT for the sixth time and recorded his statement especially about the money trail of the London flats and alleged money laundering through the Hudaibiya Paper Mills during his interrogation that lasted for five and a half hours, sources told The News.

Hussain Nawaz appeared for the first time before the JIT on May 28. He again appeared on May 30, June 01, 03 and June 09.There were strict security arrangements around the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) but a number of workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) managed to make their way near the gate of this building that acts as the secretariat of the JIT.

When Hussain Nawaz arrived at the FJA along with PML-N leader Asif Kirmani, the party workers started raising slogans and rushed towards his car. Hussain Nawaz came out of his car, waved his hand to the workers and entered the FJA to record his statement before the JIT.

The sources said Hussain Nawaz was asked many questions related to alleged money laundering through the Hudaibiya Paper Mills and bank transactions carried out by the Sharif family during that period.

“Hussain Nawaz was asked whether he wanted to amend any of his replies and give any new information about the money trail of the London Mayfair flats. The questions by the JIT also revolved around business ventures and deals between the Sharif family and the Royal Qatari family,” the sources said.

Meanwhile, a high official of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reached the FJA and provided a sealed record of bank transactions carried out from the accounts of the Sharif family to transfer money from Pakistan to any foreign country, especially the United Kingdom.

The sources said the SBP received a letter from the JIT in which it sought details of the transactions done by the Sharif family to transfer money from Pakistan to foreign countries, adding, “The SBP immediately compiled the record and its high official personally visited the FJA and handed it over to the JIT members.”