Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The joint investigation team (JIT) probing Sharif family’s business dealings abroad on Thursday once again complained to the Supreme Court that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was not providing complete record related to ruling family’s wealth.

JIT chief Wajid Zia, while submitting the third progress report before the three-judge implementation bench, said that the FBR had not provided any of the requisitioned record in response to three letters sent to them. “FBR has not provided record as per our requirement. We asked them thrice through letters but they (FBR) said the record was not available. We specified the required documents but we did not get so far,” he told the bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan.

Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, who earlier in his observations had declared the Sharif family as Sicilian Mafia, angrily remarked that this behaviour of state institutions was not acceptable. He asked if the record, in FBR, was stolen, lost or not even filed?

The bench sought response from Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf on behalf of the federal government. The AGP requested for provision of list of the requisitioned record with assurance that he would provide the record without any delay.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan, another member of the bench, while addressing the AGP observed that the situation was very much disturbing, adding that each time the court has to ask him to respond on the complaints.

Expressing serious exasperation, the bench observed it was a clear case of defiance shown by a state institution. “It’s an order and has to be complied with. Institutions are bound by the constitution to comply with the orders,” Justice Ahsan observed. Justice Khan directed the JIT head to submit complete list of required documents so the bench could direct the AGP to look into it, further hinting that the court may summon FBR chairman over the issue if non-cooperation. Justice Saeed warned the AGP against ‘foot dragging’ over what he called the last scratch of the investigation, adding the bench’s patience was running down.

The implementation bench, after perusing the third progress report, further observed that the JIT was not only going in the right direction but also with right speed to complete the task by the stipulated date.

Justice Khan asked Wajid Zia as to what was the expediency in keeping the name of the person responsible for leaking the photo of Hussain Nawaz secret? Zia responded that the name was kept secret due to security reasons. The court asked AGP to submit whether the government had any reservation over disclosure of the name of the person behind photo leak.

The bench further directed the JIT to submit its final investigation report on July 10.

Published in Daily Times, June 23rd, 2017.