Panama Leaks Case: SC asks parties to decide over formation of commission

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ISLAMABAD: A larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali resumed hearing of Panama Leaks case today on petitions by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and other parties.

The Supreme Court asked both parties to decide over the formation of a commission. The commission will comprise one judge and be able to call anyone as part of the probe. 

The Chief Justice remarked that incomplete evidence had been submitted before the court. "Naeem Bukhari has submitted documents downloaded from the internet. Such documents are not admissible evidence," he said.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that when documents are read it is evident that the prime minister's lawyer has not answered the questions we asked. "To serve justice this matter has to be investigated," he said.

Regarding the formation of a commission, PTI’s lawyer Naeem Bukhari asked for a day’s time, while the Prime Minister’s legal team began consultations. The Jamat-e-Islami supported decision of making a commission, adding that the Supreme Court should also formulate the Terms of Reference.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned till December 09.

PM's counsel presents arguments

During proceedings, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's counsel Salman Butt argued that the Prime Minister had not been named directly in the Panama papers. "The Prime Minister is not responsible for every action a member of the Sharif family makes."

Salman Butt argued that the records are 40 years old and it is difficult for him to find documents.

To this Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that the he was presenting dangerous evidence to defend the PM. 

“You should rather say I don’t know how the money was paid,” Justice Ameer Hani Muslim said.

“All these financial matters were between grandfather and grandson,” Justice Ijaz ul Hasan remarked.

Both parties speak more in the media, less in court:SC

The Supreme Court maintained that both parties are speaking more in the media and less inside the courtroom.

"What they say on the media, is opposite to what they say in the court," the SC maintained.

The court added that when one watches television it seems as if they are talking about some other case. The court said it will give its verdict on the records it has.

Nawaz says he lives in the stoneage: PTI

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Fawad Chaudhry spoke to the media outside the Supreme Court during tea break.

“The judges asked about the Dubai steel mill which was sold at a loss. However Salman Butt said that there were no written transactions in those days,” Chaudhry said.

The judges raised question over Maryam Nawaz’s travel expenses, he said.

PTI spokesman Naeem-ul-Haq said that the secret Nawaz Sharif had been hiding for the last seven months is out. “Nawaz Sharif is trying to say that he lived in the stoneage.”

“There are so many discrepancies in their statements that we don’t need to say anything,” Naeem-ul-Haq said.

PM not accused in Panama Leaks case: PML-N

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Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry that the court had agreed that the Prime Minister is not an accused in the Panama Leaks case.

It has also been proven that Maryam Nawaz is not the Prime Minister’s dependent, he added.

PML-N leader Abid Sher Ali said it has been proven that they are innocent. “Those who made false allegations should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.

Tallal Chaudry said that Imran Khan was running away from the court.  "Our opponents do not have any proof against the Prime Minister."

State Minister Anusha Rahman said that the elected Prime Minister cannot be disqualified over photocopied documents. 

 Haroon Pasha

Speaking to Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, CEO of Sharif family businesses, Haroon Pasha, maintained that the offshore accounts in Panama were set-up by the Sharif family for the revenues received after selling mills in Dubai.

Pasha added that Maryam Nawaz is not financially dependent on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

“Mrs Maryam Safdar has her own sources of income, which were mentioned in the income tax returns of 2014 to 2016; her assets are all declared,” he said.