News Analysis |
The Supreme Court on Thursday formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe into the case against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif pertaining to transfer of Pakpattan shrine land. The recent development puts more pressure on the Sharif brothers already embroiled in corruption allegations.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, heard the Suo Motu case regarding transfer of 14,000 kanals land of Pakpattan shrine to Dewan Ghulam Qutab in 1985. The former premier is accused of ordering the withdrawal of a notification of Dec 17, 1969, and allegedly allotting huge lands of Auqaf around Pakpattan to Dewan Ghulam Qutab in violation of a high court order when he was the chief minister of Punjab in 1986.
The chief justice also commented on the size of the entourage that accompanied the PML-N supremo to court and said that the ousted prime minister does not need to be present in court in the next hearing.
As the hearing resumed earlier in the day, the apex court established a JIT comprising three members to investigate the case. The JIT will be headed by Khalid Dad Lak and comprise an official from Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) each.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on the 4th December had suggested that ousted premier Nawaz Sharif should suggest which institution should investigate the charges against him of the 1986 illegal allotment of Auqaf property attached to a Pakpattan shrine after the PML-N Chief expressed his concerns over being probed by a joint investigation team (JIT).
“Let’s form a joint investigation team (JIT),” the chief justice suggested. “Mian Sahab is wary of joint investigation teams,” he added. “My experience with JITs has not been good,” Sharif responded. “Make something other than a JIT.” “We do have to be probe the matter,” the chief justice reminded the ousted premier. “The reputation of the former two-time chief minister and three-time prime minister must be cleared.”
Read more: Anything but a JIT, Nawaz pleads with CJP in Pakpattan case
“Let’s make you the judge then,” Justice Nisar commented. “You can look into it and tell us within a week which institution should be called upon to investigate the matter.” The chief justice also commented on the size of the entourage that accompanied the PML-N supremo to court and said that the ousted prime minister does not need to be present in court in the next hearing.
“His lawyer can present his arguments,” the chief justice said, adjourning the case for one week. As the hearing convened, the CJP asked about the whereabouts of Sharif, who then proceeded to the rostrum. In October 2018, the top court issued a notice to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Nawaz Sharif in a Suo Motu matter related to the allotment of 1800 kanals of Auqaf land around Pakpattan shrine to an individual in 1985 in violation of a high court order, GVS earlier reported.
The opening of old cases against Nawaz has put the disqualified PM more and more on the defensive. In the PPP days, he used his “Mulmukka” style politics to keep these cases closed while using his government’s power for the same purpose.
The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar also issued the public notice to 8,200 individuals who purchased hundreds of allotted kanals land to Dewan Moudood Masud by Nawaz Sharif, who was then serving as the Punjab Chief Minister.
The details of the allegations are that while holding the chief minister of Punjab’s office in 1986, Nawaz Sharif ordered the withdrawal of a notification of Dec 17, 1969, and allegedly allotted huge lands of Auqaf around Pakpattan to Dewan Ghulam Qutab in violation of the high court order.
Read more: Sharifs in trouble as SC orders JIT formation in Model Town…
The opening of old cases against Nawaz has put the disqualified PM more and more on the defensive. In the PPP days, he used his “Mulmukka” style politics to keep these cases closed while using his government’s power for the same purpose. However, with the ascendancy of PM Khan endowed the mission of anti-corruption, these cases have returned with a vengeance.