Panama probe: JIT sends third letter to Qatari prince, ahead of report submission

ISLAMABAD: As three-days left to submit the final report to Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has reportedly dispatched its third consecutive letter to Qatari Prince Hamad bin Jassim seeking to record his statement, sources said.

The letter stipulates verification of the two letters sent by Prince Hamad bin Jassim during the case proceedings. Over non-compliance of the top court’s orders, the Qatari prince could be summoned before the relevant court, the letter said.

It further states that on failure to record his statement, the previous letters of Qatari prince would lose their relevance with regard to the case.

Earlier this week, Prince Hamad bin Jassim had refused to appear before the JIT formed to probe money trail of the Sharif family’s offshore properties, asking the probing team to travel Doha, capital city of Qatar, instead.

The prince had also refused to arrive at Qatar’s embassy in Pakistan, inviting the probing team to Doha instead for third time for the confirmation of his letters while maintaining his stance.

He contended that he could not be subjected to an investigation by Pakistani state institutions since he holds a foreign nationality. However, he asserted that he has written letters.

Previously in November last year, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has presented two letters by the Qatari prince in the Supreme Court of Pakistan to prove the money trail of London properties.