- Justice Khosa says five-member bench to announce verdict in detail at appropriate time
The Supreme Court, after the completion of arguments by defence and prosecution, on Thursday reserved the verdict in Panama Papers case and said it would announce a detailed judgment at a later stage.
A five-member larger bench, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmad, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, heard the case, filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and others seeking investigation into the Panama Papers.
Justice Asif Khosa observed that 26,000 pages were submitted in the case and the judges would peruse these documents. He said it was not a case where a short order may be passed. He remarked that the court would decide the case only going through the material and documents and would announce its verdict in accordance with the law and the constitution.
During the proceedings, Justice Ejaz Afzal also questioned the authenticity of the PTI documents, submitted in the court to establish the petitioner’s claim regarding London properties. He remarked that the court cannot give a judgment on the basis of disputed material. “Are we supposed to put aside the normal law of land and entertain the documents which have not come through proper channel,” he questioned.
“If we do not entertain PTI documents, then Sharif family’s documents will not also be accepted on the same basis,” Justice Khosa observed. He remarked that if the court applied the same principle, then 99 per cent of the documents would not be considered. He also observed that it was unfortunate that a trend had developed that justice was only done when it was in favour.
He said if a court issues a verdict against anyone, then it was deemed that the judge has not done a good job. On the other hand, Awami Muslim League (AML) chairman Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed appeared before the bench and submitted a list of 371 questions which were raised by the court during the hearing of the case but respondents’ counsels did not give formal replies to those queries.
In his concluding remarks, PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari replied to the arguments, given in the court. He revisited his arguments on the prime minister’s address to the nation, and asked a declaration from the court similar to the one handed down in Yousaf Raza Gilani case, where then prime minister was disqualified in contempt proceedings.
He pointed out that the prime minister neither sent a notice or undertook legal proceedings against the Panamanian law firm and argued that Qataris played the role of a bank for Sharif family from 1980 till 2004 and were given profit on their investment. Before concluding his arguments, Bukhari also told the court that LNG deal of billions of dollars have been signed by the prime minister and the Qatari company.
Before conclusion of the proceedings, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq came to rostrum and briefly expressed their views. Imran said that he has come before the court not for himself but for the people. “Even in the west there is condition of being Sadiq and Amin. If leadership is not Sadiq and Amin, there won’t be any tax collection and even national exchequer will get robbed,” he said.
“I say it with heavy heart that the nation which gives most charity doesn’t pay taxes. That is due to corrupt leadership. If Pakistan doesn’t fulfill its objectives then the partition of the Indian subcontinent was a betrayal,” he said. On the occasion, Siraj said that his party has went to all institutions for accountability but their doors were closed to them. “Now we are in your court and you are in the court of Almighty Allah,” he concluded. Justice Khosa said the judgment will be given at appropriate time.
