The joint investigation team (JIT) probing Sharif family's offshore assets, has summoned Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the only daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to appear before it on July 05 for questioning. In the summons addressed to Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who is currently in London to attend the graduation ceremony of her son, the JIT directed her to appear before it on July 5 along with all relevant documents.

"In pursuance of Supreme Court of Pakistan's orders dated 20/04/2017, you are called upon to appear before the JIT, Panama case, on July 05, 2017, at 11am," says the summon issued to Maryam. It has also warned the daughter of the prime minister that any failure to comply with the summon may entail penal consequences as per relevant laws.

The Supreme Court-appointed JIT has also directed the prime minister's sons - Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz - to appear before it for further questioning on July 3 and July 4, respectively. Hussain had appeared before the JIT for questioning five times while his younger brother Hassan Nawaz faced investigation three times.

One of prime minister's cousins, Tariq Shafi, has also been summoned to make his second appearance before the JIT on July 2. The six-member JIT is due to present its report before the apex court on July 10. In its judgment of April 20 in the Panama Papers case, the Supreme Court had constituted a JIT and empowered it to summon the prime minister, his sons and any other person necessary, to investigate allegations of money-laundering, through which the four apartments in London's Park Lane area were purchased.

A number of witnesses, including Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Rehman Malik, have appeared before the JIT for questioning. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also questioned by the JIT for about three hours on June 15. Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, who is the younger brother of the prime minister, also appeared before the JIT last week. Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd), the son-in-law of the prime minister was questioned for around five hours by the JIT before Eid.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the officials of Habib Bank Limited (HBL), have appeared before the JIT along with all relevant records of the Hudaibiya Papers Mills. The sources said that HBL officials also presented the details of the Sharif family's business accounts to the six-member JIT.

This is pertinent to mention that JIT took only a one-day day off out of three official holidays for Eidul Fitr. There are reports that the JIT members also do not take any weekly off.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017