Judgement in Panama Papers case to come out next week, expects Shah Mahmood

MULTAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday that political storm triggered by the Panama joint investigation team findings has caused rift within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), ARY News reported.

“Two groups have emerged within the ruling party,” Qureshi said. He hoped that the landmark judgement in the Panama Papers case will be announced next week, which he expected will be according to the touchstone of justice and wishes of the public.

With the Supreme Court having reserved its verdict on the findings of the JIT, formed to probe corruption charges against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the capital city is abuzz with speculations about his imminent disqualification and names of his close aides who are likely to succeed him in the aftermath of judgment.

The PTI leader said that the apex court afforded Nawaz Sharif yet another opportunity to provide money trail of the family’s properties in an upscale London neighborhood but he failed to do so. “Why the nation should pardon those who looted public money,” he asked.

The PTI leader said that the nation wanted to bring those involved in looting and misusing public money to justice.

A day before, PTI chairman Imran Khan chaired a meeting of party leaders and his legal team to mull the top court’s judgment in the Panama Papers case and said, “PTI will restrain the ruling party from triggering chaos and anarchy in the country in case if the PM gets disqualified.”

The meeting was attended by PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jahanghir Tareen, Naeemul Haq, Arif Alvi, Shafqat Mahmood and Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rasheed.