ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan in Panama Papers case goes on leave after the Chief Justice of Pakistan approved his leave application, ARY News reported.

Makhdoom Ali Khan had requested the apex court to grant him leave amid hearing of the high profile Panama Leaks case from February 13 to February 24 owing to his personal commitments.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Saqib Nisar has granted leave to the counsel.

A five member bench of the apex court was hearing Panama Leaks case on daily basis. The case, however, presently adjourned due to the unavailability of a member of the bench-Justice Azmat Saeed Shaikh- due to the health issues. The hearing of the case is now subject to the availability of the learned member of the bench.

The hearing was expected to resume on Monday (yesterday) but now it is likely to be held on February 13.

Makhdoom Ali Khan has been the counsel of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali in Quetta bombing suo moto hearing case. The hearing of this case has been adjourned for two weeks.

The Panama Papers Scandal

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.