Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Director, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), Royal Gerald has said that neither they seek apology from the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif nor they were asked to do so by Pakistani government.

Talking to a private TV channel on Thursday night he said that ICIJ did not issue any press release regarding seeking request for forgiveness from Nawaz Sharif.

He said that Prime Minster Pakistan knew about the news before publishing it in the Panama papers which revealed the offshore companies owned by Nawaz Sharif’s children. Before publishing the stories ICIJ, tried to take their stance on the matter, whose names were included in the papers.

It is pertinent to mention here that Gerald’s statement came on surface when the government started an advertisement campaign in the media from the national exchequer to defend Prime Minister.

Gerald said that media is running baseless stories regarding the removal of PM Sharif’s name from the list of Panama leaks. His name is present there with reference to offshore companies possessed by his children.

He said that anyone from Pakistan or any other country can get information about Panama leaks from the website of ICIJ.

On the previous day Gerald also made it clear that he or any other member of ICIJ did not ask for admission of guilt from Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.