PM vows contesting Panamagate JIT's findings, refuses to resign

ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT)’s damning report, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday reiterated that he would not resign and contest the probing team’s findings in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The premier said it while chairing parliamentary party meeting of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Addressing the participants, the premier said the democratic governments have been dismissed in the country on accusations of corruption and being security risk, due to which the country has been going through unstable political situation for last 70 years.

The PM said: “We hope the top court will hear our reservations on findings of the probing team.”

He called himself ‘squeaky-clean’, and vowed he won’t resign on anyone’s demand. “Our family has been in business since 1937,” said Mr. Sharif, adding he has done nothing wrong and his conscience is clear.

Claiming credit for initiating countrywide development projects in the country, Sharif claimed not a single allegation of corruption has surfaced against him.

“Presenting ourselves for accountability was an unprecedented move,” Sharif said, adding that no political family has ever presented itself for accountability the way Sharif family appeared for the accountability test.

“We never made any deals or signed NROs with anyone,” he added.

He further said that former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto disappointed him when she signed the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) following the consensuses on Charter of Democracy.

Early today, the Premier received a warm welcome by party leaders amidst desk-thumping and clapping in his honour at start of the meeting.

He was also briefed on the JIT report by the party’s legal experts.

Sources said the meeting was called to device a strategy in response to the opposition’s calls for the premier’s resignation following the submission of the Panama case JIT report. The ruling party’s parliamentary meeting was attended by the federal lawmakers of the party.

It is to be mentioned here that Nawaz Sharif is the president of the ruling PML-N whereas Senator Raja Zafarul Haq is chairman of the party.

Startling revelations in JIT report

The JIT has charged the ruling family with perjury, having disproportionate income and living beyond their means. It said Sharif failed to satisfactorily answer most of the questions put to him during his appearance before investigators on June 15.

Following the report, the opposition parties demanded the premier to tender resignation. However, the ruling party leaders remarked that they will contest the ‘concocted’ report in the Supreme Court.