Panama case: Establish a link between PM and Sharif family business, judge asks

ISLAMABAD: A five-member larger bench led by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa has resumed hearing the Panama Leaks case on Monday.                       

Counsel for Jamat-e-Islami Taufeeq Asif continued his arguments today. He argued that parliamentary immunity is only for the legislative process. “The Prime Minister earlier said that he wanted to clarify everything. He should now appear before the court to explain everything and take the nation out of distress,” he said.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that the JI counsel was biting his own words. “You are opposing your own petition,” he said adding that he should elaborate as to what the Prime Minister is concealing.

“The PM did not present the money trail in his speech,” he said.

Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh said that the PM’s lawyer had refused to produce a money trail as he maintained that the London Flats were not owned by the PM. He added that in order to prove something wrong, one has to establish what the truth is.

Justice Gulzar asked the JI counsel to establish a link between the Prime Minister and the Sharif family business.

Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that Nawaz Sharif maintains that his name has not been included in the Panama Papers.

Justice Khosa said that during proceedings the judges ask questions to understand the case. These questions should not be taken as remarks, he said.

The hearing has been adjourned till Tuesday.

‘Allow live streaming if judges want pressers to stop’                    

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that if the judges want press conferences outside the Supreme Court to stop then live streaming of the proceedings should be allowed.

"Because we are a political party and we need to inform voters about what happened inside the court," he added.

PTI leader Naeem-ul-Haque, speaking to the media, said that the Prime Minister had invited several dignitaries to his London Flats during the 80's.

'Maryam Nawaz real owner of London Flats'

PTI chief Imran Khan said that a journalist who has raised the Panama Leaks case has confirmed that Maryam Nawaz is the real owner of the London flats.

He added that the letter from Qatar is fake.

"In his speech, the Prime Minister had said he had all evidence of the money trail, but now he has none," Imran Khan said.

'Imran Khan has introduced culture of abuse in politics'

Speaking to the media, PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz said that Imran Khan had introduced a culture of abuse in politics.

PML-N leader Maiza Hameed meanwhile said that there were discrepancies in what Imran Khan told the media and what he told the court.

Speaking outside the Supreme Court, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed said that the Panama case has become a white elephant. 

JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq told media that their counsel was working as a volunteer and no fee was being paid to him. 

During the hearing on Friday, the counsel submitted a petition requesting the court to demand a copy of the Prime Minister's speech in the parliament and London Flats documents, which the premier had submitted to the National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq.                       

The Prime Minister's lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Naeem Bukhari have completed their arguments.      

In a rally held in Kasur on Sunday, the PTI chief Imran Khan reiterated that the Prime Minister will not be allowed to go scot-free in the Panama Leaks case.