ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s legal counsel, Khawaja Harris Ahmed, has once again begun to present his arguments today in the Supreme Court on day 3 of the ongoing Panama Papers case hearing.
The special implementation bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, was hearing the case.
As the hearing resumed, Harris argued that the prime minister was not interrogated about any of his assets. “If the JIT had something, they would have asked questions,” he said.
Harris also read out his statement given to the JIT.
Harris claimed that the PM has no assets other than those that he has declared.
Justice Ijaz remarked that the prime minister had claimed earlier that he would provide a money trail of all the properties but when these properties were bought and where the funds were generated from still remains unanswered.
Everything is clear except the ownership of London properties which remains ambiguous, observed Justice Ejaz.
Responding to this, Harris said that PM Nawaz is not the owner of the London flats.
Harris claimed that the JIT has stated that the flats are the property of entire Sharif family.
Justice Ijaz remarked that the money trail of the London flats still remains unanswered. He commented further that if the main question [of the money trail] is answered, the matter will be settled.
Harris claimed that the premier’s late father, Mian Sharif handled family business matters.
Justice Ijaz remarked that the prime minister was aware when he stated in the national assembly that he would provide the money trail of the London flats.
“The tragedy is there are no documents to prove who the real owner of the London properties is,” remarked Justice Azmat.
Following wrap up of arguments by PM Nawaz’s legal counsel, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s counsel Dr Tariq Hassan began his arguments before the bench before the court went into recess.
Upon resuming the hearing, the bench asked the premier’s children’s legal counsel Salman Akram Raja, to present his arguments.
Raja apprised the court that some new records have been obtained, which will be presented in the court in a couple of days.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the Panama Papers implementation case till tomorrow.
PTI’s legal counsel Naeem Bukhari, Jamaat-e-Islami lawyer Tausif Asif and AML chief Sheikh Rasheed presented their arguments before the apex court regarding the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the JIT report earlier on Monday.
On Tuesday, the three-member special bench observed that they would examine all the material before taking a decision on the disqualification of the PM or referring the cases to an accountability court.