Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday submitted another review petition in the Panama Papers case in the Supreme Court challenging the verdict delivered by the three-judge bench last month.
On July 28, the apex court had disqualified Sharif for concealing his salary from a Dubai-based company and directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file references against him and his children on the basis of the report of a joint investigation team that probed their off-shore properties.
The fresh review petition filed by Advocate Khawaja Harris on Sharif’s behalf asks the apex court to declare its verdict void and revoke it, arguing that not drawing a salary and not declaring it cannot be made the basis for his client’s disqualification. The former premier’s petition asks how his disqualification came about on the basis of matters concerning Capital FZE when there was no mention of the company in the original petition against the Sharif family filed by the plaintiffs — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq.
In his petition, Sharif has raised the point that according to Pakistan’s income tax laws, a salary is that which has been received by the filer. The petitioner maintains that in light of this, the law cannot disqualify him even if he were to declare his salary from Capital FZE.
On the matter of not declaring his assets, Sharif’s petition states that a relevant forum exists to deal with such concerns and had the SC directed the matter towards that forum, he would have had the chance to defend himself.
In his petition, Sharif has also objected to the fact that the defendants’ reservations regarding the joint investigation team (JIT) were dismissed. He stated that asking the trial court to wrap up its proceedings within six months will affect the verdict, adding that no law in Pakistan allows for the monitoring of a trial court and thus the SC’s orders to conduct such monitoring are against the law.
Sharif has already filed three petitions against the verdict presented by the five-member SC bench on April 20.
His children — Hussain, Hassan and Maryam — and son-in-law retired Captain Mohammad Safdar also filed review petitions challenging the SC’s July 28 verdict, on August 25.
In their separate review petitions, the former PM’s children and son-in-law had urged the court to review its verdict that directed NAB to file references against them in connection with their off-shore properties, and stay further implementation of it until their appeals are decided.
They contended that the apex court could not direct NAB to file references against them and argued that the top court had become party to NAB proceedings and thus, deprived them of their right to fair trial guaranteed under the constitution.
They submitted that the way the Panamagate JIT carried out investigation did not conform to the principles of justice. Besides, the appointment of a SC judge to monitor NAB proceedings is in violation of the articles of the constitution that guarantee the right to fair trial under due process of law and right to life and dignity and protection.
Nawaz was reading from a paper given to him and a joker was repeatedly helping him read specific Paras. It was in Urdu translated text. He had not read it before hence stuttering. Naa Ahl had to say every word sent jointly by Modi and Donald, not Duck but Trump. Dawn however will not post my comment being a Modi press reporter.
The sure sign of dementia is that you keep on donig the same thing again and again and expect a different result. Am i touching a nerve?
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