Panama Papers Case: PM and his children’s statements are contradictory, says PTI lawyer

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf lawyer Naeem Bukhari resuming his arguments before the Supreme Court bench in Panama Papers Case said today that the statements of the prime minister and his children are contradictory.

A larger bench of the apex court comprising five judges – Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Azmat Saeed, Justice Ijaz Afzal, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Hasan- hearing the case against the family members of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Bukhari argued before the bench on Wednesday that a bearer certificate is not a prize bond, which owned by the person who is possessing it. According to the law intimation of holding the bearer certificate is necessary, the counsel said. Sharif family have to produce evidence that the Qatari family was holding the bearer certificate, Bukhari further argued.

According to the prime minister’s family, the bearer certificate was in possession of the Qatari family before 2006, they have to prove it and also give proof that their all actions were lawful, the lawyer said.

The bench on Tuesday said that the Panamagate case was limited to London flats only, and if PTI tried to divert attention of the court towards a new angle, then the case would go somewhere else.

“What is the importance of Ishaq Dar’s statement? Is he one of the accused in the case?” Justice Ijaz Afzal questioned.

Justice Afzal continued and urged to respect and maintain dignity of the top court. “Do not drag us out of our parameters,” he insisted.

On the ownership of London flats, PTI’s Bukhari said that from the first day they belonged to the Sharif family.

Justice Khosa in his remarks said that he does not want to go into political matters. “Do you want us to work outside the law?” asked Justice Khosa and clarified, “To prove corruption is not our job.”

BACKGROUND

The leaked papers, comprising 11.5 million documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, exposes how some of the world’s most powerful people have secreted their money offshore, and also implicated Sharif’s sons Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz.

Three of Sharif’s four children are named in the Panama Papers – daughter Maryam, who has been tipped to be his political successor and sons Hasan and Hussain – with the records showing they owned London real estate through offshore companies administered by Mossack Fonseca.

The Panama Papers have whipped up a storm of controversy over offshore wealth, ensnaring political leaders, sports figures and underworld members across the globe in the scandal.