Daily Times

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is due to appear before the joint investigation team (JIT) probing Sharif family’s business dealings abroad today here at the Federal Judicial Academy.

The JIT had summoned the prime minister to appear before it along with record and material relevant to Panama case on June 15 at 11am.

Around 2,500 police personnel have been deployed in areas surrounding the Federal Judicial Academy, temporary headquarters of the JIT, besides officials of FC, Special Branch and the intelligence agencies. Security personnel of the PM Secretariat will be deployed inside the FJA premises. Islamabad Traffic Police personnel will be deployed alongside route from PM Secretariat to the FJA to maintain traffic flow.

In a show of power, a huge gathering of PML-N supporters under the party leadership from Islamabad Capital Territory are expected to gather outside the FJA during the appearance of the prime minister.

The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) has, meanwhile, announced to stage protest on the occasion of prime minister’s appearance before the JIT to record his statement in Panama case. At a press conference, the LHCBA demanded the prime minister step down until the investigation team constituted by Supreme Court completes its probe.

LHCBA Vice-President Rashid Lodhi said that lawyers decided to launch protest after PM failed to abide by the law which required that an accused should step down from his office till completion of trial and investigation against him. He said that PM’s aides should not take pride in the fact that the PM was facing the investigation on corruption charges as under the law every accused has to do so. He said that the lawyers would continue their protest for resignation of the prime minister.

Lodhi said that the legal fraternity would stand with judiciary and the Supreme Court-appointed JIT. He said that no one would be allowed to erode or usurp the constitutional rights of the judiciary. The JIT has already summoned PM’s younger brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to appear before it on June 17 (Saturday).

Shahbaz has also been asked to bring along record/documents/material elated to the Panama Papers case.

The JIT’s summons to Shahbaz were issued on the day when his close aide and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the JIT should better call Shahbaz Sharif too if it wanted to do a PhD and write a thesis on the Sharif family.