Nawaz Sharif won't go down easy

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday filed objections over a report submitted by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on Panama Papers issue in the Supreme Court. The 10-page document submitted by the premier accused JIT of probing Panama Papers case by violating its mandate. “JIT’s biased report should be rejected,” Mr Nawaz Sharif appealed the apex court. He has also sought volume 10 of the report which was kept confidential on JIT’s request.

Finance minister Ishaq Dar also submitted objections over Panama JIT report in SC registrar’s office. Earlier, the Supreme Court resumed hearing of Panama Papers case. The three-member implementation bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan is hearing the case. The six-member JIT, set up by the apex court to investigate charges of money laundering against Mr Sharif, submitted its 60-day investigation report to the court on July 10. The JIT found “significant” disparities in the Sharif family’s income and actual wealth.

Later, the opposition parties said the Prime Minister was no more truthful and honest and the Supreme Court will decide the fate of the country. Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the whole nation was looking towards the SC, and it was a very important day in the country’s history. He said PML-N members themselves were now asking Mr Sharif to step down. Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed bashed the government and said it wants to delay the proceedings, and to take the country towards civil war.