Saleem Mandviwalla refutes Ali Jahangir’s allegations

“Case is based on my tweet tweeted in 2017 in which I mentioned appointment of Ali Siddiqui son of Jahangir Siddiqui as Advisor to PM after their investment of $20 million in Air Blue”

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman Senator Saleem Mandviwalla has refuted the defamation notice of former ambassador Ali Jahangir Siddiqui and termed it an attempt to target lawmakers and Parliamentarians to stay quiet and not tell the truth about the reality of their dealing.

In a news conference Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that a defamation case was filed in 2017 against me by a company namely SPM (Pvt) Ltd. and their authorized officer is Muhammad Amir Shaifq S/o Safiqullah.

The case is based on my tweet tweeted in 2017 in which I mentioned appointment of Ali Siddiqui son of Jahangir Siddiqui as Advisor to PM after their investment of $20 million in Air Blue, he said.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla revealed that “you all will be surprised to know that few months back JS and Company sent some people to me with the message to withdraw my tweet and apologize but when I asked them to deny the fact if JS and Air Blue were partners or otherwise then everyone kept quiet”.

Senator Saleem Mnadviwalla clarified that the JS was the business partner of Air Blue and is still a partner of Air Blue and he will also prove this in the Court of Law.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that such attempts can’t pressurize me or our party and I refuse to surrender and stand by with my earlier statement. I am a JIALA and will face the Court proceedings.

I will take this opportunity to explain the Court proceedings on this case that to my surprise this case was heard in the Court of Law number of times but a single notice was not received to me nor did I know that any Court case was going on against, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that now, out of nowhere, I received the warrant of appearance after one year and to which I only say that I will appear in the Court as I belong to the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Peoples party whose leadership had always faced Court cases for years.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said, “I would also like the hon’ble Chief Justice of Sindh High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of this issue that a Court Case was going and Accused wasn’t informed for one year and a sudden warrant of appearance was issued”.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that NAB is also investigating a scam of Rs 40 billion against Ali Jahangir Siddiqui but he has not been arrested. On the other hand NAB is arresting former Prime Minister, Chief Minister and opposition members. It appears NAB has two laws- one for lawmaker and other for its favorites.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that before elections Fawad Chaudhary also wrote letters to the caretaker government and revealed that letter that Ali Jahangir Siddiqui and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are close business partners, but Ali Jahangir Siddiqui didn’t sent defamation notice to Fawad Chaudhry.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said, “In the light of all the evidences, I would also request the Supreme Court of Pakistan to appoint a JIT to investigate the assets, businesses and expenditures of Ali Siddiqui, more importantly his stakes and investments in Air Blue”.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla urged the current government also to ensure a transparent enquiry into the motives behind Ali Siddiqui’s appointment as Ambassador to the USA and reveal the facts to the whole nation.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla cleared that “By sending me defamation notice, Ali Siddiqui has attempted to scar my flawless political reputation as a patriotic Pakistani. I also have the right to initiate legal proceedings against Ali Siddiqui which my legal counsel is looking into”.

He said that “Nevertheless, this case filed through third party shows that JS and Company were only trying to threat me and my party but let me say it in a clear-cut form that the actual target was not me but it was an attempt to malign the Senate of Pakistan”.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that “They clearly made a targeted attack on the Senate and I feel is an insult to the Parliamentary system of Pakistan, But I want to tell them that the Senate of Pakistan will continue to oversight the Executive and will highlight the wrong doings of the government”.

Here, I will also like the Chairman Senate to take notice and take up this matter in the House because if this has happened to me, it can also happen to some other Members in future but to protect the integrity of all hon’ble Members and for the Supremacy of Parliament, a strong message must be given to such fake complainants. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said.

 

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