SC to hear Panama JIT's reservations, 'photo leak' response today

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will resume its hearing into the Panama Papers verdict implementation case today, ARY News reported on Monday.

A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan – a special bench constituted to implement the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Panama Papers – would hear the Joint Investigation Team (JIT)’s reservations and hurdles it complained in its probe into money laundering allegations and its response to the application filed by the premier’s son, Hussain Nawaz, seeking judicial probe into his photo leak.

During previous hearing earlier this week, the JIT leader Wajid Zia had informed the bench that it was facing hurdles and difficulties in its probe against the PM and his children.

While observing that there was no secrecy involved in the matter, the bench had asked him to submit an application so that Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf may be asked to ensure that all the issues faced by it are addressed.

Subsequently, a JIT member submitted an application to the registrar of the apex court on Saturday.

The JIT will submit its response to the application filed by Hussain Nawaz seeking formation of a judicial commission headed by a serving or retired judge to find out as to who leaked his photo on social media.

In the application, it was submitted that the leaked photo was aimed at humiliating him and violation of fundamental right to human dignity.

The special bench of the apex court will also hear the complaint filed by National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) President Saeed Ahmed accusing the JIT members of mistreating him.

His complaint made headlines since it was the third controversy in row concerning the Panama Papers probe after PML-N Nehal Hashmi’s outburst against the judiciary and the JIT members and the photo leak of Hussain Nawaz.

Saeed alleged that he was interrogated as if he was a condemned prisoner. He also complained of grilling for over 12 hours by the JIT in three consecutive sessions during which he was made to wait for five hours after the first session.

Ahmad opined that the treatment was sheer violation of the apex court’s orders which guaranteed dignity to one being questioned.