JIT begins probe into Sharif graft charges
ISLAMABAD : The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed by Pakistan’s Supreme Court to probe graft allegations against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his familyinthePanamaPaperscase began work on Tuesday with an informal meeting in Islamabad.
The court last week approved thesix-memberteamcomprising onerepresentativeeachfromthe State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission, NationalAccountabilityBureau, Federal Investigation Agency, Military Intelligence and InterServices Intelligence.
The team’s head, FIA additionaldirectorgeneralWajidZia, wasbriefedaboutsecurityprotocolsoftheFederalJudicial Academy whichhasbeendeclaredthe formal meeting of the JIT is expected over the next few days.
According to an FIA official, the JIT’s head also wrote a letter to the FIA director general, asking him to nominate five officers with expertise in probing white collar crime.
The JIT will submit progress reports every fortnight to the three-judgebenchoftheSupreme Court formed to oversee the implementation of the Panama Papers verdict.
Meanwhile, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf said on Mondaythat theinquiryintothe assets of the Sharif family should not be held behind closed doors. "We will not accept in-camera proceedings of the JIT," party spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry