Maryam Nawaz records statement before Panama JIT

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz recorded her statement before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing Sharif family’s offshore properties amid strict security measures around the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) where the six-member body is conducting its proceedings.
Speaking to media after recording statement before JIT, Maryam thanked party workers who had arrived outside the FJA to express solidarity with her.
“I appeared before the probing team after my father PM Nawaz Sharif, uncle Shahbaz Sharif, husband captain (retd) Safdar and brothers Hussain Nawaz and Hasan Nawaz attended prolonged sessions here. I came here despite the fact that my name is not mentioned in the court order”, Maryam said.
Maryam Nawaz added, “I appeared before the JIT being a daughter of the nation and the sitting Prime Minister of Pakistan."
“I answered every question asked by the JIT members during two-hour session”, she said.
“At the end, I also humbly asked them what are we are accused of?” PM’s daughter said and added the members failed to answer my question.”
“This is not the first time I am named in any scandal, before Panamagate, I was also dragged in the Dawnleaks only to pressurize my father Nawaz Sharif,” Maryam asserted.
They (JIT) are now finding something to charge us, she claimed. ‘There’s no allegation of corruption in public funds against Nawaz Sharif.’
‘It is all about pressurizing Nawaz Sharif by summoning his sons and daughter because they know if Nawaz Sharif was able to complete all the development projects in the next few month there shall be no hurdle in his way to win next elections.’
Referring to former president Pervez Musharraf who avoided court appearance on the pretext of illness, Maryam said they too could have diverted their vehicle to a hospital after 'back pain [excuse]' or become an absconder hiding in an official rest house in Nathiagali but they have presented themselves accountability.
"Those saying they’ll make us cry should know only God can make us bow down and cry...[and] because we belong to the ruling family, our judgment by God will be the most strict," she maintained.
She warned the prime minister's opponents, saying "you should know if you conspire against Nawaz Sharif, he’ll come back stronger".
Although, she didn’t take media question, her elder brother responded to money trail queries saying questions over money trails should also be asked from those who have assets in Pakistan. ‘Nawaz Sharif has no link with the assets we own.’
She is the eighth member of the Sharif family to appear before the JIT formed on May 6 in the light of the Supreme Court’s April 20 judgment in the Panama Leaks case.Maryam is expected to be questioned about the dependency, estates owned by her and Sharif family and exchange of gifts worth millions of rupees. She appeared before the JIT for the first time however, her brothers have been summoned several times in the past few days.
PML-N was unhappy over the summoning of Maryam. Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif expressed displeasure and said there was no moral ground for summoning her.
“Our culture teaches us to respect women,” he said, adding “women in the Sharif family were also subjected to mistreatment during the unconstitutional government of Pervez Musharraf.”
The JIT is bound to submit its conclusive report by July 10.
'Will neither cower down nor yield to pressure'
A day before appearance, in a series of tweets on Tuesday, Maryam said her father had been through testing times in more than 30 years of his political career, acing out his rivals.
“Yet, as an affectionate and protective father, I saw his eyes filled with concern and apprehensions over his daughter’s appearance before the JIT,” she stated on the social media.
She tweeted she reassured her father: “I am your daughter, trained by you. [I] will neither cower down nor yield to pressure and nothing will deter me from taking up the cudgels against transgression and injustice.”
Political Platform
Commenting on her appearance, Talat Hussain, senior journalist and analyst said, it is a platform for Maryam to be launched in politics. He said if she had political ambitions, which are clear, she would appear as heir of PM Nawaz in the politics as Hussain Nawaz and Hasan Nawaz are not very much interested in the politics due to their businesses abroad.
She waved to the crowd gathered outside the FJA, which is a sign of defiance by the family, he commented.
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