Panamagate Case: SC seeks suggestions from petitioners, defendants on commission

ISLAMABAD: Whether to make a commission on Panamagate scandal or not? The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday sought suggestions from petitioners and defendants before adjourning the case hearing until December 9.

A five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court was of the view that the prime minister must answer to clarify his stance in Panamagate case.

“The commission will be made on the basis of accusations levelled by PTI and will be headed by a Supreme Court judge,” said Justice Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali.

He said, provided if the parties agreed on a commission, it would give petitioners and defendants, equal opportunity to present their case and will also get assistance from all institutions.

“Commission will file its report in front of the Supreme Court,” said Justice Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali.

In a short party meeting after the case hearing, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) showed reservations regarding conditions on which the Panamagate commission would be made and its terms of references (TORs).

PTI maintained that the apex court must clarify and explain details for the commission first.

 

Govt fails to satisfy court on offshore companies

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday awaited three important answers from Sharif family on their offshore companies, Maryam Nawaz’s financial and legal status and about the accuracy of premier’s past speeches on the issue.

However, PM’s counsel today could not respond to any of the aforementioned questions satisfactorily.

He failed to submit the complete documentary record on the money trail through which the Sharif family established their offshore companies.

“From where should we get a 40-year-old record,” said Salman Butt by explaining, that “Dubai banks do not keep records older than five years.”

He said, “It is not even known, how and when business engagements started with the Qatari family.”

PM’s counsel informed the court that the defendants have presented all the evidence they had on Panamagate Case in front of the top court.

“Then why you told people that you have all the record in the case?” asked the Supreme Court bench in reply.

It added, “That means, PM’s statements on documentary records were fake and you are confirming that PM’s speeches in the past were all political on the Panamagate issue.”

Butt adopted an excuse, “PM is not responsible for every deed of the entire Sharif family.”

The court observed that Maryam Nawaz’s dependency matter remained unsolved and maintained that it was not the responsibility of SC to gather proofs and evidence.

 

Nawaz Sharif soon to leave PM’s post, says PTI

The entire leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) including Chairman Imran Khan and Chief of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rasheed also attended the hearing.

Imran Khan said there were more questions other than the three raised by the top court in the case while, as per PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the defendants were baffled by the questions thrown at them.

“Our last hope is the Supreme Court,” said Sheikh Rasheed.

The PTI leadership as petitioners in the infamous case was confident that PM’s counsel had neither proofs nor justifications over Sharif family’s sources of income. According to them, there were so many loopholes in the Panamagate scandal now that there was not even need to prove anything against the Sharifs.

Soon Nawaz Sharif would not be ruling as the prime minister of Pakistan, claimed PTI on Wednesday.

The Panamagate Scandal appeared in April 2016 when names of several Pakistanis including Nawaz Sharif’s children surfaced in one of the world’s biggest ever data leaks through an online searchable database made public by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).