Nawaz Sharif escapes disqualification, SC forms JIT to probe into Panama Leaks

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has on Thursday formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe into the Panama Leaks.

The investigation team will be headed by Additional Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and comprising of seven other members.

The court further ordered to nominate the rest of the team in the next seven days.

The investigation team comprises of representatives from Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI).

The apex court ordered the investigation team to complete its investigation within 60 days.

The court asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his children to appear before investigation team.

The court further remarked that two judges hold the prime minister disqualified.

Questions arose over the business dealings of Mr Sharif's family when three of his children were linked to offshore accounts in the Panama Papers leaks in 2015. The court said that the off-shore companies’ ownership must be probed.

The court said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) failed to perform its duties.

The court further reached to the conclusion that Nawaz Sharif is no more Sadiq and Amin and the court order him to be disqualifies as Member of National Assembly under Article 63 1/F of the constitution for concealing his assets and sharing misleading information on the floor of the house. 

The Supreme Court agreed to investigate Mr Sharif's offshore wealth late last year after opposition leader Imran Khan threatened street protests.

The focus of the probe was on the funds used to purchase property in London using offshore companies.