SC completes Panama Leaks hearing, reserves verdict

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday completed hearing the Panama Leaks case and reserved its verdict, which it maintained will be announced at a later date.

A five-member bench led by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa remarked that it will review all angles of the case in detail and then announce a verdict. "It will be not be short-judgement but a long-judgement," the bench maintained.

All eyes are on the verdict of the case which took 26 days of the Supreme Court. The Panama case changed the political landscape of the country, which was torn between two groups; the first comprising of all of the political opposition including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the second belonging to supporters of the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Also read: Panamagate: A timeline of how it unraveled

The courtroom where the proceedings were underway was packed with people, both politicians and lawyers. Meanwhile, additional police contingents were called in view of the security situation.

Documents cannot be verified: SC

During the proceedings today, the bench maintained that documents produced by both parties cannot be traced to verifiable sources.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that documents submitted by both parties will be viewed in the same light.

Justice Ejaz Afzal said that Supreme Court is not a trial court that it verifies documents. "How can we accept documents without verification?" he said.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that the party who does not like the verdict claims that judges have been bribed.

PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari replied to arguments raised in the court.

"Yesterday the issue of pending payments of the Gulf Steel Mills were raised," Bukhari said. Bukhari asked as to how Hussain and Hassan Nawaz received funds for investment. "The Qatar investments look like profits from a bank."

Justice Azmat Saeed asked him not to repeat the same arguments.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and leader Jehangir Tareen were present in the court. Also in attendance were Jamat-e-Islami (JI) chief Siraj-ul-Haq and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed.

PML-N to respect court's decision: Saad Rafique

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said on that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would respect whatever decision would be given by the Supreme Courtin the Panama Leaks' case.

Talking to media outside the Supreme Court premises, he said the court's decision was about to come and all the parties in the case should get ready to accept it.

"You may have your own reservations and feelings but you have to respect the court's decision," he said.

 

 *Asif Bashir Chaudhry also contributed to reporting