Human rights lawyer and an activist Asma Jahangir on Monday said that the Panamagate joint investigation team's (JIT) report cannot be taken as the final word on the Panamagate case. Speaking to a private channel TV show, Jahangir said that it is understood that the Supreme Court cannot reach a final verdict based solely on the JIT report. She also said that it is not important for the Supreme Court to agree with JIT's findings.
The human rights activist said that since Article 10(a) is now part of the Constitution, it means that there will be a trial. Article 10(a) gives citizens of Pakistan the right to free trial. "Now the question is where the Supreme Court will send it for trial. If it is held in an apex court, there will be no time for appeal," she said. She further said that since the JIT was controversial, it will not be fair to take its report as the final word.
"It was being said that JIT will not be able to work until Nawaz Sharif resigns," Jahangir recalled. "But they have, as you said, submitted a damning report". She, however, criticised the courts for not taking note of Sharif family's financial irregularities earlier. "If they committed any financial crimes, courts should have stepped in then instead of waiting for Panama Papers to be released."
"The media was constantly creating the impression of [the government being] a mafia. These claims have made the JIT controversial," she added.