A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, resumed hearing on Tuesday (today) in the petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Awami Muslim League (AML).
During the case proceeding, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa remarked that The Supreme Court (SC) may summon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to record his statement in the ongoing case.
Asif requested the top court to summon the prime minister and record his statement regarding the ownership of luxury apartments in an upscale London neighbourhood.
Justice Khosa told the JI counsel that the court will first hear the stance of the counsels of PM Nawaz’s children and if there is anything required, then the premier may be summoned. The judge, however, clarified that such a move will only be taken after hearing the arguments of the counsels.
Meanwhile, Justice Gulzar Ahmed observed that the apex court had declared in the Khewra Mines case that it can record evidence under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
Concluding his arguments, the JI counsel said Nawaz had appeared in the top court several times in different matters, therefore, the court should summon him in this matter as well. “Everyone’s has doubts regarding the money trail of London flats given by the Sharif family,” he argued.
Justice Azmat Saeed hinted at scrutinising Jamaat-e-Islami’s petition to find any misstatement.
“There is no room for misstatement in the petition as per rules,” he warned.
Justice Azmat Saeed told JI’s counsel that they will see the result of any such move in the court’s verdict.
Meanwhile, Counsel for Jamat-e-Islami Taufeeq Asif informed the bench that he stands by his words.
“I will prove that Khalid Anwar defended Nawaz Sharif in Zaffar Ali Shah’s case,” he argued.
On this, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa remarked that the bench is only interested in the case’s findings.
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Earlier, said a visibly irritated Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed while admonishing Advocate Taufeeq Asif, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) counsel, who kept on arguing that prime minister enjoys no immunity in the Panama Papers case in the Supreme Court said, ‘You don’t know the difference between immunity and privilege.’
Justice Sheikh added that he thinks that he is doing this all to get an adjournment.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said the parties should wait for the final verdict of the apex court in the case instead of delivering speeches or resorting to political commentary outside the court.
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