CJ says solid evidence in Panama Leaks case needed

ISLAMABAD: A larger bench of the Supreme Court resumed hearing of the Panama Leaks case on Thursday.

In his remarks Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that solid evidence for Panama Leaks will have to be submitted in the court. 

The chief justice said that till a detailed investigation is done, the court cannot give out a verdict. "An inquiry commission can carry out an investigation," the CJ added.

Justice Azmat Saeed said that both parties claim that they bought the London flats through offshore companies. "On the other hand they are also saying that these flats belong to Hussain Nawaz."

"The Prime Minister's family also said that they made a steel mill in Gulf region. Additionally investment came from Qatar. As a joint business venture the London flats were bought and its trustee is Maryam Nawaz, the court was told," Justice Azmat Saeed said.

He added that if the claims of the children of the prime minister prove true then PTI's petition will be dismissed. "Now it is up to you Hamid Khan sahib that you pay attention to the documents submitted by the Prime Minister's children," he told PTI's lawyer.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said, "You have pointed out the mistakes. Now give us documentary evidence."

"We can not scrutinise the entire life of Nawaz Sharif," he added.

The court adjourned the hearing till November 30.

SC being swamped with petitions

During hearing of the Panama Leaks case, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that every day they were receiving six to 10 petition. "If we begin hearing each petition the real case will be left aside."

To this, advocate Tariq Asad said that he had filed the first petition in April.

The Chief Justice remarked that Asad had asked that the case be sent to National Accountability Bureau and Federal Investigative Agency.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) lawyer Hamid Khan said that the Prime Minister's name had appeared in the Panama Leaks and the apex court should analyse three of the speeches he made regarding the allegations.

PM submits reply in court 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif submitted his reply in the Supreme Court in which he said that PTI's 'proofs' were based on lies.

Imran Khan has not come up with solid evidence, the reply stated.

On Wednesday, the children of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif submitted a petition in the Supreme Court against documents submitted by PTI in the Panama Leaks case.

The petition submitted by Maryam, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz states that the 683 pages submitted by the PTI were just pieces of paper and did not have any legal standing.

The petition was submitted by Advocate Akram Sheikh on behalf of the prime minister’s children.

In the last hearing, Justice Azmat Saeed said documents submitted by PTI had no relevance with the case. “The documents also include newspaper clippings. The petitioner himself has buried the truth,” Justice Azmat remarked.

The court maintained that one side had submitted 700 pages while the other had submitted 1600 pages. "We are not a computer that we scan the documents in a minute," Justice Azmat Saeed said.

The verdict will be in favour of Pakistan: Imran Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said on Thursday that the real match has not begun yet. "The matter is in the court. Let's see what happens next," he said.

Speaking to journalists outside the Supreme Court he said that the verdict will be in favour of Pakistan, adding that he will be visiting London tomorrow for a personal visit.

PTI leader Jehangir Tareen said that they were not fighting this case for making it to headlines. "We are fighting this public interest case against corruption."