Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf on Friday submitted reply to the allegations of the joint investigation team (JIT) probing Sharif family’s business dealings abroad regarding non-cooperation as well as tampering of records, stating that all the institutions had denied the allegations.

The JIT had in its application complained before the Supreme Court regarding impediments in the way of investigation and expressed its inability to conclude the process within the stipulated period of sixty days.

The four-page reply filed by country’s top law officer Ashtar Ausaf informed the court regarding replies of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Ministry of Law and Justice, Intelligence Bureau and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

“Decision on the application filed by the JIT cannot be given without the parties named being put to notice and recording of evidence,” AGP viewed while suggesting that it would be better and appropriate that notices should be issued to the institutions against whom the allegations were leveled and heard in the courtroom. The reply, however, stated that the exercise may consume considerable time and the focus of the matter in issues was likely to be diverted.

The matters complained of can be taken up with final report of the JIT, which is bound to be handed down within the timeframe prescribed by the SC, the AGP suggested.

The reply maintained that SECP and its chairman had categorically denied allegations and reiterated with supporting documents that investigation against Chaudhry Sugar Mills was in fact closed in 2013.

“The allegations of tampering of the records are thus prima facie incorrect. Correspondence with UKCA for mutual legal assistance clearly showed that the said investigation was closed in 2013 well before the appointment of the incumbent chairman.” stated the reply.

According to the reply, the NAB denied that the issue of show-cause notice to one of the members of the JIT was malafide. “Show-cause notice was issued to Mangi pursuant to an order of this Honorable Court like 77 other persons prior to the formation of the JIT,” it stated, adding that the matter had been suspended now.

“FBR has also denied allegations stating that the records, which JIT had requested time to time, spanned over 40 years and of several individuals. The record was provided within the minimum possible time period. Thus according to FBR the allegations are not well founded.” the reply stated.

The Ministry of Law and Justice has specially denied all allegations stating that the letter for mutual legal assistance under Section 21 was issued in record three days’ time. The IB denied the JIT’s allegation that it had hacked a Facebook account in the use of JIT member Bilal Rasool and his family members in order to retrieve contents attached by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s son, Hussain, to his earlier complaint to the SC.

“The IB has denied allegation of hacking [the] Facebook account of Bilal Rasool or his wife or any other member of the JIT,” the reply submitted in court read.

The Prime Minister’s House had also denied allegations regarding the alleged tutoring of witnesses and persons who were being summoned by the JIT.

The reliance and reference to technical analysis is indeed an admission by the JIT of the phone tapping and monitoring of witness, a violation of law and the constitution, it stated. The attorney general also accused the JIT of tapping phones of the Prime Minister’s House. Taping of PM’s House phones was not permissible under the law, he said.