PM's son-in-law appears before Panamagate JIT

ISLAMABAD: Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar Awan, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday appeared before the Joint Investigation Team probing the properties of the Sharif family.

Addressing media after a marathon five hour session, Capt. Safdar decried the witch hunt  against the Sharif family and said that they are the true defenders of the constitution of Pakistan. He said there should be no doubt and he will present the money trail and the documents of the properties.

He appeared satisfied by the treatment of the JIT and said he answered all questions asked by them, but said it was would be unethical to disclose the proceedings and provide any further information.

He strongly said that the probe was against Nawaz Sharif who had envisioned development and progress of the country. “The two-nation theory is being put on trial,” he said.

“This is against beloved leader Nawaz Sharif who wants to build motorways from Gwadar to Kashgar,” he said giving the premier credit for shattering the begging bowl and bring the nation on a path of development.

He warned political opponents, particularly Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, from conspiring to derail democracy and the path of development or else they will not be remembered well in history. “Today no one is asking those having Surrey palaces, or the criminal of Kargil,” he quipped.

Captain Safdar earlier arrived at the Federal Judicial Academy where he was greeted by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Anjum Iqbal and a large number of party activists who chanted slogans in favour of Nawaz Sharif.

The JIT headed by Federal Investigation Agency additional director general Wajid Zia had earlier rejected Safdar’s plea to reschedule his appearance. He was performing Umrah and had arrived from Madinah on Friday to appear before the JIT.

A day earlier Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Rehman Malik had appeared before the JIT and provided it details of the inquiry he had carried out into the allegations of money laundering by the Sharif family in 1990s. He confirmed having presented two letters written to former president Rafique Tarar and other evidences pertaining to the money laundering allegations.

Malik had served Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as Additional Director General in 1990s, and had conducted a money laundering probe against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1994-95.

The Supreme Court has directed the JIT to complete its probe and submit report by July 10. The JIT was given sixty days to probe Sharif family’s properties and the money trail as part of the verdict announced in the Panama Papers case.