Supreme Court insists ‘Panama case’ limited to London flats

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday resumed the hearing of the infamous Panama Papers Leaks Case against the family of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

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 was hearing the case.

Commenting on a debate regarding Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution during yesterday’s (Monday) hearing, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa admitted he should not have given an observation and took his words back at the start of the hearing today.

Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, Jamaat Islami (JI) Chief Sirajul Haq and Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rasheed were also present in the court.

PTI’s counsel Naeem Bukhari’s announced to give points with regards to a money laundering report about Ishaq Dar sent to former president Rafique Tarar, chief justice and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

In reply, Justice Ijaz Afzal 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?” he 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.”

The hearing of the case was later adjourned until Wednesday.

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.