The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday sought documents for proving that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif owned offshore assets.
The SHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was hearing a petition filed by Moulvi Iqbal Haider, a practicing lawyer and chairman of Awami Himayat Tehreek Pakistan, requesting the court to disqualify Nawaz Sharif from holding prime minister’s office. On Friday’s hearing, the court asked the petitioner whether or not the name of Nawaz Sharif was mentioned in Panama papers. “The papers do not carry Nawaz Sharif’s name but his sons and daughter,” the petitioner replied.
The court observed that how could the prime minister be disqualified in the wake of Panama papers as it did not carry his name. It directed the petitioner to come up with documents which could prove Nawaz Sharif’s offshore assets. Earlier, the petitioner submitted that Nawaz Sharif had filed a false affidavit and never disclosed that his family members owned offshore companies.
Moulvi Haider submitted that the prime minister had hidden his assets and business from the Election Commission of Pakistan. “In terms of the judgment of apex court, Nawaz Sharif should be treated as per Article 4 read with 25 of the constitution of Pakistan.” The court was requested by the petitioner to disqualify Nawaz Sharif and restrain him from holding the prime minister’s office.
