- Court is not bound to accept ToRs of any party, it will frame its own ToRs in Panama leaks matter
- Says single-member commission to probe Panama leaks after reviewing all replies
ISLAMABAD, November 3: The Supreme Court has directed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s children – Maryam Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz – to submit their replies by Monday as it resumed hearing of the Panama Leaks case.
The prime minister’s lawyer Salman Aslam Butt submitted his written reply in the court on Thursday, stating that Sharif did not own any offshore companies and flats. The reply added that the prime minister’s name was not mentioned in the Panama Papers and he regularly submits his asset details in the Election Commission and tax returns to the Federal Board of Revenue.
A five-member larger bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali conducted hearing of the case.
The court was irked when the Sharif family lawyer said that replies had yet to be received from Hassan, Hussain and Maryam Nawaz.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that if the replies are not submitted, the court would accept allegations against the prime minister’s children. “Can you give a written statement that Maryam Nawaz is not under guardianship of the prime minister?” he said.
The court adjourned the session till Monday, 9:00 AM and directed that the prime minister’s children submit their replies in the next hearing.
The court order available with a private TV Channel states that the apex court is giving the prime minister’s children the last chance to submit their replies. It also directed that all parties should submit their Terms of References (ToRs). A single member commission, comprising a sitting judge of the apex court will be constituted to probe the Panama Leaks.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf submitted its ToRs in the Supreme Court. In its ToRs, the PTI raised the issue of Mayfair Flats.
“How did Maryam Nawaz become the sole proprietor of the Mayfair Apartments? The flats are owned by Nescol Ltd and Nelson Enterprise companies. The court should find out when these companies were created,” the ToRs question.
“When was the Mayfair flat no. 17 bought in 1993 and at what cost? How were funds transferred from Pakistan?” the ToRs ask.
“All four flats were bought between 1993 and 1996. In that case did the Prime Minister lie in the National Assembly about buying the flats for $17 million after selling Azizia Mill? In that case the Prime Minister is neither truthful nor trustworthy,” the ToRs add.
Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed submitted his Terms of Reference (ToR) in the court where he said that details of the prime minister’s assets and source of income from 1985 till 2016 should be investigated. “How did the prime minister manage to transfer his assets abroad?” the ToRs ask.
The ToRs also demand to know the details of tax returns, foreign investment and income.
CJP observed ” there is no binding on the court to accept ToRs of any party and the court will frame its own ToRs. Vulgar abuses are being hurled through media with respect to Panama Leaks. Court wants to conduct proceedings on priority basis. -Agencies
