SC likely to announce Panamagate verdict within 10 days: Fawad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: As the Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict after wrapping up fifth and final hearing of the ‘Panamagate’ case, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry vehemently asserted that the day has its historic importance as the top court concluded the high-profile case.

“Supreme Court will likely announce its final verdict within ten days,” Chaudhry said.

Appearing optimistic, he anticipated that the apex court will give a judgment upholding the accountability as what he said: “The court will disqualify PM Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar. [Subsequently] their cases will be sent to NAB court for trial.”

Taking a jibe at Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, he said the federal minister is decrying the investigation not in defence of the premier but in self-defence.

Opposition leaders anticipate judgment upholding justice

Earlier today before the fifth hearing session, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) senior leader Sherry Rehman said: “If you [Prime Minister] don’t recognise this accountability then you are questioning the Supreme Court.”

She made these remarks in response of the premier’s statement that its not accountability but exploitation. The PM was addressing a public gathering yesterday (Thursday) during inauguration of Lowari Tunnel when he decried the Panamagate probe while lashing out at the JIT and the PTI.

She opined that if such remarks were made by a Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) PM what PM Sharif had said in Upper Dir, the PPP PM would have been facing contempt of court charges.

“PM Nawaz Sharif is making every state institution controversial,” Sherry said while urging the premier to step down.

Supreme Court has reserved verdict on Panama Papers implementation case, probing money laundering charges against Sharif family after hearing arguments of all the parties.

Addressing the media outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan before the hearing session, Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rasheed said that the defining moments have come in the landmark Panama Papers case, as the court likely to give its final judgment.

Appearing optimistic, he said the demand of Prime Minister Nawaz’s resignation has become the demand of million.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq, who is also another petitioner in the case besides AML chief, said that the Supreme Court’s decision is to set a precedent while terming it defining moments.

Wishing for elimination of corruption as result of the decision, the JI Ameer said: “Unfortunately Pakistan is the only country in the world where the rulers think themselves above the law.”

Anticipating a fair judgment upholding the accountability and setting a precedent, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi argued that his party is the forefront in the case for rule of law.