The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership met yesterday to discuss different options that could be adopted after the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Panama Papers case submits its report to the Supreme Court tomorrow, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while speaking at a ceremony in Jhang, challenged his rivals to defeat him in elections instead of resorting to “conspiracies against his government”. 
In Islamabad, the prime minister chaired a consultative meeting of senior leaders of the PML-N which was attended, among others, by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Law Minister Zahid Hamid.
It has been learnt that the meeting at the PM House decided that the PML-N would contact other political parties to seek their support amid prevailing high political temperature in the country.
The PM’s spokesman Musaddiq Malik said the JIT’s procedure for collection of evidence had raised several questions.
“The government conferred all powers on the JIT but it is astonishing why it did not go to London and Panama to verify the evidence provided by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf against the prime minister,” he said.
When contacted, the PM’s Adviser Barrister Zafarullah said any decision on legal options could be taken once the JIT report was made public or submitted to the court.“We will challenge the report if any lacuna is found in it,” he said.
In Jhang, speaking at an inauguration ceremony of a power project, PM Sharif said: “I’ll lay the foundation stone of the 4,500MW Dasu hydel project on July 10 when the JIT submits its report (to the Supreme Court).”
Apparently addressing PTI chairman Imran Khan, Sharif said: “Sometimes you take cover of polls rigging and stage sit-ins, at others you conspire in the name of accountability and take refuge behind the JIT as you know that you cannot win elections. It’s cowardice. Come and confront me in the [political] field whenever you wish so.”
The prime minister claimed that there was a “fear of defeat” behind the PTI chief’s “intriguing mind”.
“You have been defeated by the PML-N not once, but repeatedly. And you will be defeated in future as well.”
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also spoke on the occasion.