ISLAMABAD: The three-member special bench of Supreme Court has resumed hearing of the Panama Papers case today.
A three-member SC bench comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan resumed the hearing of Panamagate case during which SC judge said that JIT was tasked to inspect every available record.
Presenting his argument in the court, Sharif family’s legal counsel, Khawaja Harris said that the court had assigned 13 questions to the JIT. Harris claimed the JIT went on to probe 15 questions instead of the original 13 by including ‘assets beyond means’ in its probe. JIT included two more questions on its own, he claimed.
Justice Ijaz observed that a number of issues are related to the court’s 13 questions. Money trail of London flats still remains an enigma, Justice Ijaz said.
The main issue is to probe the London money trail, observed Justice Ijaz.
Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked that they cannot comment on any part of the report.
He said the trial court will decide if including the Hudaibiya Papers Mills case in the JIT report was right or wrong.
Addressing the respondent, Justice Ijaz observed that you could have said anything in your defence but you did not. “Facts were hidden and answers not provided to the JIT,” he remarked.
The prime minister and everyone else was given a chance to defend themselves, it is wrong to say otherwise, he remarked further.
Justice Azmat stated that the bench had heard and understood their arguments.
Khawaja Harris said the team is not authorised to give any kind of verdict over which Justice Azmat said JIT members gave their recommendations based on what they deemed fit. However, the decision to act on these recommendations is for the SC to decide, he added.
Justice Azmat further observed that the respondent has not disputed any document presented in the JIT report.
Harris claimed the JIT investigation is not transparent. The prime minister was not asked to verify the documents and thus the court cannot issue an order based on the JIT report, he argued.
Justice Ijaz observed that on one hand it is said they [Sharif family] talk about everything at home yet no one knew who owns the London properties. “The premier kept visiting flats but doesn’t know who owns them,” he remarked further.
Harris further claimed that the JIT report included questions that had not been posed to PM Nawaz. “It should be probed why I wasn’t given chance to confront documents against the prime minister,” he said.
Justice Azmat remarked that he could submit a separate application to the Supreme Court regarding the matter.
Relating to the confidentiality of volume 10 of the JIT report, Justice Azmat remarked that the volume could be made public if the counsel requests for it.
Justice Ejaz clarified that the JIT inquiry is complete. Justice Ijaz added that volume 10 does not contain evidence.
Lawyer Salman Akram Raja, representing Nawaz Sharif’s children, said he will present his arguments in court tomorrow.
On Monday, Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and the Sharif family’s lawyers submitted separate objections to the final report of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that probed allegations of money laundering against the ruling family. In the objections, the Sharif family and the finance minister rejected the JIT report and argued that the team had exceeded its mandate.
Moreover, the petitioners delivered their arguments in favour of the Panama case JIT report and against the Sharif family. The counsels for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Sheikh Rashid presented their arguments during Monday’s proceedings.
Today, the bench will be hearing arguments against the JIT report by the respondents.
PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari pleaded to the apex court that PM Nawaz be called for cross examination, disqualified from the Parliament and cases against him and his family be sent to an accountability court.
The counsel for JI argued that the premier did not speak the truth during his speech in Parliament.
Sheikh Rashid, presenting his arguments, said the nation was embarrassed to find out its prime minister is a paid employer of another company.
Khawaja Harris, the Sharif family’s lawyer, will continue his arguments today.
In his remarks to the bench on Monday, Harris said a case against the Sharif family cannot be undertaken on the basis of the JIT report.
The bench observed that an investigation was required based on the nature of the allegations and was thus directed. “The JIT was not conducting a trial…choose you words carefully,” observed Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed.
Later, the bench adjourned the hearing.
During proceedings, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, who heads the bench, wondered if the JIT can trust the veracity of the documents while Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked the JI counsel to inform the bench to what extent could it implement the JIT’s findings and use its authority.
The JIT was given 60 days to probe Sharif family’s money trail, and submit its report to the court on July 10.
The corrupt have always hid behind technicalities. No more. State must decide if it wants Pakistan or everlasting suppressive regime.
Now is the time to test if the Supreme Court judges are independent or mere pawns of the Pakistan royal family like NAB and the Election commission. The general impression is that Ch. iftikhar was on the payroll. I hope his colleague still on the bench will prove that they are honest and are not following his ways of justice when it comes to dealing with the royal family.
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