Malik summoned by JIT

The joint investigation team (JIT) probing the Panama Papers case has summoned Senator Rehman Malik, senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) and former interior minister, to record his statement in connection with his report on Hudaibiya Paper Mills. According to the summons issued by the JIT on June 10 to Senator Rehman Malik, “In pursuance of order of the Supreme Court, you are called upon to appear before JIT on June 13 at 11:00am on Tuesday at JIT Secretariat at Federal Judicial Academy (FJA).”

The probing team also asked Malik to bring a verified copy of his report commonly known as ‘the Rehman Malik report’ along with all relevant record/documents/ material for recording statement/examination of JIT. Spokesman for Rehman Malik, Riaz Ali Turi said that Malik has received summons from the JIT for appearance on June 13, adding Malik has been abroad since June 9 in connection with PPPP’s overseas affairs. Malik is cutting his visit short and has requested for short adjournment and earliest new date instead of June 13, he further said.

Malik as an additional director, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), in 1998 had prepared a detailed and documented report, which ostensibly established the money trail through which Nawaz Sharif purchased his properties in the names of his children, which he had submitted to the then President Rafiq Tarar in September 1998. The JIT has also summoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on June 15 (Thursday).

The summon was issued by the JIT on June 8, 2017 and the Prime Minister has been asked to appear before the JIT on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 1100 hours, at the office of the JIT.

The JIT on the Panama Papers case was constituted in light of the Supreme Court’s April 20 judgment and the court had ordered the JIT to complete its probe within 60 days. The investigation team is bound to submit a progress report after every two weeks to the apex court and it has submitted two progress reports before the Supreme Court so far.