Pakistani team to begin probe into Sharif’s assets

TIL Desk/World/Islamabad/ A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed by the Pakistan Supreme Court for the implementation of the Panama leaks verdict, met on Tuesday ahead of formally launching an investigation into Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s assets.

Wajid Zia, Additional Director at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) who is heading the six-member JIT, was chairing the session to set out investigation methods for implementing the apex court’s Panamagate verdict.

Last month’s verdict said there was not enough evidence to disqualify Sharif, but in a 3-2 judgement the Supreme Court ordered a fresh probe into allegations against the Prime Minister of financial irregularities and money laundering. The court also ordered to provide the JIT an initial amount of 20 million Pakistani rupees ($190,794) to carry out the probe.

The team of investigators has decided to seek assistance from the FIA and experts from the private sector. The head of the JIT has already written a letter to FIA’s Director General in this regard. Earlier on Monday, JIT members met at the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad, which has now been declared the JIT Secretariat.