Pakistan PM Sharif's family accused of links with ISI; ISPR DG says 'integrity' of armed forces 'beyond reproach'

After Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Friday said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family had long-standing relations with the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asif Ghafoor said the "integrity" of the armed forces was "beyond reproach."

Aitzaz was commenting on the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) whose formation was ordered by Pakistan's Supreme Court in the Panama case verdict on Thursday.

"Comments by few regarding head of premier int(elligence) agency are baseless, misleading and unwarranted. Integrity of armed forces is beyond reproach," Ghafoor tweeted.

Earlier this week, Nawaz Sharif got a temporary breather from his nation's top court, which said there was "insufficient evidence" to remove him from office, but ordered setting up of a JIT to investigate the graft allegations against his family.

The high-profile graft case is about alleged money laundering by Sharif in 1990s - when he twice served as the Prime Minister - to purchase assets in London. The assets surfaced when Panama papers showed last year that they were managed through offshore companies owned by Sharif's children.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, sons - Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, retired Capt Muhammad Safdar (Sharif's son-in-law) and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar were among the respondents in the case.

(Inputs from PTI)

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