PML-N, PTI trade barbs over leaked photo of Hussain Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: With mystery continues to surrounding the source behind the leak of a photograph of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz’s appearance before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on social media, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf blamed each other for leaking the photograph, ARY News reported on Monday.

The picture, a screen grab from a CCTV feed, shows Hussain Nawaz sitting on a chair before the interrogating team in a room at the Federal Judicial Academy. It carried the date of May 28 when he had made his first appearance before the JIT, probing the Sharif family over allegations stemming from the Panama Papers.

The photograph moments after its leak triggered a debate on social media with analysts and politicians questioning the veracity and source of illegal publication of the photo.

According to media reports, PTI leader Ali Zaidi initially shared the picture on social media.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb while reacting to the leak said it was a serious breach of investigation rules. The picture was humiliating and regretful, she said while adding it had raised serious questions about impartiality and working of the JIT.

Whereas, spokesperson of the prime minister house Musadik Malik accused the PTI of sharing the picture on social media to show the Sharif family in bad light. Onus is on the apex court to take cognisance of the leak incident since the JIT was working under its supervision, he added.

Rubbishing the government’s claims, Fawad Chaudhy of PTI said Interior Minister Chaudhy Nisar and a spy agency were behind leaking the photo.

Hussain Nawaz had appeared before the JIT on May 28 for the first time at the Federal Judicial Academy and faced a barrage of questions for over two hours.

He made his second appearance on May 30 during which he was grilled for hours. For third time, Hussain Nawaz turned up before the investigating team on June 1 to establish the money trail behind the Sharif’s London properties. He made his fourth appearance on 3rd June.