–Chief Justice Nisar says court showing extreme patience to what is being said about it outside [the court]
–Asks if reproach is suitable behaviour for those who uphold law and constitution
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar on Thursday expressed concern over the ongoing criticism by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on the Supreme Court in wake of the Panama Papers case judgement, questioning if the reproach was a suitable behaviour for those who uphold the law and constitution.
While hearing the case pertaining to the disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary General Jahangir Tareen, CJP Nisar observed that the criticism would not affect their stature nor will it compel the judges to be ‘dishonest’ with their work.
“What could be a higher position than the one we are holding now? Why would we be unfair in our work?” he asked.
Chief Justice Nisar said that the court is displaying extreme patience with regards to what is being said [about it] outside, adding that it is amazing that so many things are being said yet the court does not react, adding that this practice of the bench should be appreciated.
The top judge was seemingly responding to comments made by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif where he alleged that the judges of the courts are filled with hatred against him.
“The hatred, anger and words of the judges will constitute dark history,” said Nawaz after the Supreme Court dismissed his petition for reviewing the verdict on Nov 7.
The ousted premier said he was not given the right to a fair trial during his hearing at the accountability court, insisting that all allegations against him were also baseless.
The three-judge bench headed by CJP did not entertain the petitioner’s plea to summon the record of Imran Khan’s 1997 nomination papers.
Akram Sheikh, counsel for Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi said that Imran Khan has admitted that he contested 1997 election, therefore it is his responsibility to submit 1997 nomination papers documents. However, the bench observed that it is the responsibility of the petitioner to submit undisputed documents for disqualification of any candidate.
Meanwhile, Justice Umar Ata Bandial noted that the main question is that how Imran’s offshore company euro account surfaced.
Hearing of the case was adjourned till November 14. The same bench has already conducted 26 hearings in the case.
The PML-N legal team is claiming that the ECP’s record shows that Khan concealed details of his assets and liabilities in the annual returns he filed in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The record shows that Khan did not mention details about the claimed loan taken from his wife Jemima Khan to purchase land in Banigala in the returns submitted for 2003 and 2004. The PML-N lawyers believe that these omissions are enough to disqualify Khan under Article 62. One member also questioned why Khan kept his offshore company alive 12 years after the sale of the London flat.