Islamabad (June 16, 2017): The different government government and agencies, accused of obstructing the investigation and not extending cooperation to Panama JIT, have rejected the allegations in their responses submitted to Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) submitted the responses of Prime Minister’s House, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Law Ministry, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on the allegations of JIT.
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The Prime Minister House in its response has rejected the allegations. It added that the JIT in its report had admitted of taping phone and monitoring of witnesses. “Taping phones and monitoring witnesses was itself an illegal act, the PM House response added.
Intelligence Bureau has also rejected the allegation of JIT of hacking Facebook account of JIT member Bilal Rasool and his family.
The Law Ministry rubbished the JIT charges against it of non-cooperation, saying that the ministry had issued letter within three days regarding the mutual legal assistance.
The JIT, in a report to the apex court’s special implementation bench, had accused the Prime Minister House, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Ministry of Law, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of impeding the investigation, pressuring witnesses and threatening JIT members.
According to the AG’s response, a decision on the JIT’s charges cannot be taken without recording evidence or hearing the point of view of all those involved. It added that this will take time and attention away from the investigation.
The reply suggested that the charges of the JIT can be analysed after the 60-day probe deadline when the JIT has submitted its report to the Supreme Court.
The NAB has said that there was no malafide intention in sending a show-cause notice to its JIT member — Naeem Mangi — as 77 other NAB officers were also sent show-cause notices in light of Supreme Court orders. It stated further that these notices were sent before the JIT was formed.
The FBR has also rejected all charges levelled against it in the JIT report. The JIT first contacted us for providing records on May 8 and then did so on May 25, May 29 and June 8, it was stated. The 40-year-old record that was asked for was sent over as soon as possible, it added further.
The investigation into Chaudhry Sugar Mills was closed down in 2013, while the SECP chairman was appointed after it, said the SECP.
The response also stated that the JIT staff is responsible for the leaking of summons, which are not secret anyway.
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