Panama case: Only verified documents can be accepted as evidence, judge remarks

ISLAMABAD: A five-member larger bench resumed hearing the Panama Leaks case on Thursday.

The Prime Minister's counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan completed his arguments.

The court can only accept verified documents as evidence under article 78, Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked. He asked for solid evidence in the case, as a verdict based on assumptions could not be handed out. “If the Supreme Court disqualifies [the Prime Minister] then not just in this life, you will take this ugly label to your grave,” he said.

The hearing has been adjourned till Friday.

Maryam Nawaz is financially independent: PM's counsel

Counsel for the prime minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, Advocate Shahid Hamid presented evidence regarding her property.

Justice Asif Khosa asked, "Was land bought by the father on her daughter's name?"

Advocate Shahid Hamid submitted details of the dates when the property was purchased, as well as other related documents.

The Prime Minister's counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan said that Nawaz Sharif had purchased the land for Maryam Nawaz. "The property was transferred to her name after she paid price for the land."

"Maryam Nawaz is financially independent, she is not dependent on the Prime Minister," Makhdoom Ali Khan said.

To this Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan said that usually fathers buy property for children who are dependent on them. "The term dependent will have to be defined keeping in mind the case."

Justice Asif Khosa said offshore companies are not illegal. "Tax evasion and concealing assets is illegal," he said. 

Some people trying to ridicule the SC: Khawaja Saad

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz leader Khawaja Saad Rafique speaking after the hearing asked the Supreme Court to pay attention to how ‘some people’ were ridiculing remarks of the honourable judges.

“If judges give remarks it is their constitutional right. One has to respect it,” he said, that such ridiculing was an attempt to put the courts under pressure.

“My rivals can have problems with my politics, but no one can deny that I am committed to democracy,” he said.

During the proceedings on Wednesday, the SC sought a complete chart, showing details regarding financial records of transactions between the prime minister and his children. 

PML-N is diverting attention from the case: Imran Khan

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said PML-N leaders think that by calling me evil, they can divert their attention from the case.

He said that Nawaz Sharif is custodian for PML-N and therefore he has to be accountable.

"When we were protesting in the streets, they told us to go to the parliament. When we protested in the parliament they asked us to go to the court. Now that we are here, they still want us to shut up," he said.

"What other name should I give to a thief? A thief is a thief," he said.