I did not call PM a liar, says Justice Ejaz

• SC judge expresses annoyance over misinterpretation of court’s ruling by some political leaders

Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan heading the three-member Supreme Court special bench constituted to ensure implementation of the Panama Papers case on Friday expressed annoyance over misinterpretation of the court’s ruling by political leaders, saying, “I did not call the prime minister a liar,” in the decision.

Justice Ejaz Afzal is a part of the three-member special bench alongside Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan. During proceedings regarding the JIT’s formation, Justice Ejaz Afzal expressed displeasure over statements by politicians, saying a political party leader had lied and misled people by giving the impression that all the five judges had called the prime minister a liar in the verdict.

He warned if the judges were misattributed or misquoted again, the person concerned would be brought to the court. He remarked that the judges were showing restrain, adding, “Our patience must not be tested.” During the proceedings of the case, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) chairman appeared before the court and presented a list of officers of both the institutions for the joint investigation team (JIT).

Commenting on why the names proposed for the JIT by these two departments were rejected, Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that it was sad that the court had to point out that the names submitted by the SECP and State Bank were leaked to the media. “This is why we deemed it necessary to discard the submitted names,” he remarked.

He said that these institutions were responsible for maintaining secrecy, and they should be held responsible for the leaks. “How did the names leak even before the list was submitted to us,” Justice Ejaz Afzal questioned. He also expressed his dismay over the way politicians and media outlets have been commenting on the Panama Papers case verdict, stating that regardless of what people say, the court would deliver justice.

Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked that the court did not care about what the political leaders, or the media said and it would work according to the law.