SECP chief accused of tampering Sharif companies' records gets five-day interim bail

A special court in Islamabad on Monday granted five-day interim bail to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) chairman Muhammad Zafar Hijazi, accused of tampering the records of companies owned by the Sharif family.

A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) inquiry into Panamagate joint investigation team's, probing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family's offshore wealth, allegations that state institutions are tampering records found Hijazi guilty of the charge.

According to Express News, the SECP chairman was granted interim pre-arrest bail until July 21 by Special Court Central, Islamabad.

Earlier, Hijazi was granted a transitory bail till July 17 by the Islamabad High Court against surety bonds of Rs. 10,000.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is presently hearing responses of all the parties on the Panamagate joint investigation team's (JIT) report.

The JIT was formed after the apex court's April 20 judgement to probe Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family's money trail. The probing panel submitted its 60-day investigation report to the court on July 10, in which it pointed out a categorical foul play on part of the Prime Minister, his children and other family members in their wealth details linked to offshore companies unearthed in Panama Papers.

The court is expected to either put Sharif on trial on corruption charges, or even disqualify him, but few expect the judges to dismiss the case.