ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that Wajid Zia, who headed the Panama case investigation, will have to reveal the names of 40 “faceless” Joint Investigation Team (JIT) members, who took part in the investigation as told by him in the accountability court.
Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the office-bearers of Chitral Press Club on Thursday, the minister said that Wajid Zia told the court that 40 people participated in the investigations of JIT but refused to tell their names, the money paid to them and the terms on which they were engaged.
She said that the issue would not end just like that because an elected prime minister was sent packing and the people wanted to know the names of the people who participated in the investigation.
“Wajid Zia had confessed in the NAB court that he had no documentary evidence to prove that Nawaz Sharif received salary from his son’s company. Also, it was neither written on any document nor any witness had deposed that the Trust Deed concerning Maryan Nawaz was fake,” the minister added.
She said that even in the SC Judgment it was nowhere written that Maryam Nawaz should be asked to appear before JIT or to check the authenticity of the Trust Deed because it was “fake”.
The minister said that none of the allegations on the basis of which Nawaz Sharif was disqualified had been established. Marriyum said that the cross-examination in the court had unraveled the truth. She said that no question had been asked about Iqama in the court on the basis of which Nawaz Sharif was disqualified. The minister said that a case was instituted against Nawaz Sharif for having assets beyond means notwithstanding the fact that his father was the owner of a business worth billions of rupees.
Referring to the alleged horse-trading in the Senate polls, she posed a question as to why Imran was not expelling the lawmakers from his party who were involved in the horse-trading.
The minister said that Imran had dubbed Zardari a thief and dacoit but then shook hands with him and his party men voted for the chairman and deputy chairman Senate.
Marriyum said that before pointing finger at others he should look at his own performance. She said that his double standards and lies had been exposed before the people.
Published in Daily Times, April 13th 2018.
