SC issues notices to all parties including PM in Panama Leaks case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court issued notices to all parties including the Prime Minister on Thursday as it began hearing five petitions regarding the Panama Papers which have overshadowed political landscape of the country for the last several months.

A three-member bench presided by the Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard the petitions including two petitions filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf calling for the disqualification of the prime minister.

The SC sent notices to all parties including the Prime Minister on the request of JI and PTI. The session was adjourned for two weeks.

A petition filed by the PTI Chief demands that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar be stopped from working in the government. Meanwhile an inquiry into allegations in the Panama Papers against the prime minister and his family be launched.

Another petition filed by the Jamat-e-Islami Chief Siraj ul Haq demands that all the allegations against the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) be asked to investigate all Pakistani companies named in the Panama Papers.

Sheikh Rasheed from Awami Muslim League has demanded that a commission be formed to investigate the allegations in the Panama Papers.

A lesser known Watan Party has demanded in its petition the Supreme Court is not legible to form the commission to investigate charges of the Panama Papers, and the role should passed on to the parliament. The petition was rejected by the apex court.

PM welcomes SC decision

The Prime Minister welcomed decision by the Supreme Court over the Panama Papers on Thursday adding that he had faith in the constitution.

The issue of the Panama Papers was brought to the notice of the Election Commission, Lahore High Court, and the Supreme Court, the prime minister said.

"I believe in the constitution, supremacy of the law and transparency," he said.

The King has been told the law is above him: Imran Khan

PTI Chief Imran Khan arrived at the Supreme Court to attend the hearing. 

"There are reports that the Prime Minister has been summoned," the PTI chief said. In reality the prime minister had only been issued a notice.

"The basis of democracy is Magna Carta-- a law which was passed which said that the law was above the king. This is the first time in Pakistan's history the 'king' has been told that the law is above him. We welcome the decision," he said.

He said that the SC decision will strengthen his party's protest adding that corruption is cancer which is eating away the country.