PTI files reference seeking disqualification of Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Saturday filed a reference case in the Lahore High Court seeking the disqualification of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Babar Awan, who recently joined the PTI, filed the reference on behalf of Imran Khan as earlier vowed to take the chief minister to court. Shahbaz Sharif has also filed a defamation case over Imran’s claim that he was offered ten billion rupees to stay silent on the Panama case.

Addressing the media, Babar Awan said that the reference is not based on any rumours or assumptions, but rather the Joint Investigation Team report in which Shahbaz Sharif’s name is mentioned twice.

“There is declaration in Panama case against Godfather 2,” he said referring to the JIT report which claims Shahbaz Sharif  in the Al-Towfeek case submitted large sums with any money trail or known sources over the Mayfair apartments.

He also referred to a decree by high court of Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in London on 16 March 1999 which stated that Shahbaz Sharif, along with his late father and brother Abbas Sharif, submitted $34 million.

The English High Court decreed the defendants including Shahbaz Sharif have a beneficial interest in the Mayfair apartments. The matter was settled for $8million.

He said this is sufficient evidence against the disqualification of Shahbaz Sharif. Babar Awan said the Panama case is mega-corruption scandal which is by the people of the Pakistan against Nawaz Sharif.

He appeared optimistic and said that next week will be the dawn of  a new era for Pakistan. “The Panama case is simply against corruption, and is by the people of Pakistan,” he said.

He said that PTI opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed filed a reference against the chief minister, which was not accepted by the Speaker who said a case was already filed in the court.

Awan said that the LHC had taken up the case earlier but said that instead of a reference to the court the matter should be filed in the Punjab Assembly, and if the Speaker refuses, the matter should be brought back to the court.

JIT report states that Shahbaz Sharif refused to answer any questions over the Al-Towfeek case, or his arraignment in the Hudaibiya case by claiming that the case was quashed by a Pakistani court, which is false and contrary to the records available.

JIT report also states that Shahbaz Sharif also refused to answer questions about the Mayfair apartments and said that the JIT cannot probe the matter despite being mandated by the Supreme Court. JIT report said that Shahbaz Sharif has full knowledge of the matter and the English High Court ruling established a nexus between Al-Towfeek and Hudaibiya Paper Mills.