As Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing money laundering allegations against the Sharif family is all set to submit its final report to the Supreme Court on Monday, Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid said on Sunday that onus was on the Sharif family to ensure presence of Qatari royal, its key defense, before the JIT.
While addressing a press conference here at his residence in Rawalpindi, AML chief claimed that PML-N party sensing its defeat, and it might appeal the Supreme Court questioning the outcome of the Panama probe branding it a conspiracy against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. With the Qatari prince refusing to acknowledge legal status of the JIT and appearing before it, Sharifs were left with no defence, he said. "If the PML-N storms the apex court as its leaders and activists did in 1997, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan will come out in support of the judiciary", Sheikh said.
He appealed the top court to take notice of perpetual criticism of the Panama JIT by the PML-N camp for what he said was equal to attack on the judiciary. Commenting on PM's daughter Mariyam Nawaz appearance before the JIT, he said the ruling party couldn't gather 200 activists on the day of her appearance to show support for their leader.