- Asks three questions from Sharif family
ISLAMABAD, December 6: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday cast suspicion on the statements of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his children submitted in Panama Leaks case, and said there seems contradiction in the stances of Hassan Nawaz and Qatari prince.
While hearing the Panama Papers case, the Supreme Court raised three important questions: How did the Prime Minister’s children create their companies? Is Maryam Nawaz dependant on someone? And did the prime minister tell the truth in his statements?
“It is now the responsibility of the defendants to provide evidence after claiming their properties,” said Justice Khosa during the hearing.
Saying it was important for the defendants to clear their positions, Justice Amir Muslim explained, “It was the main charge that their offshore companies and properties were created through illegal means.”
The court said if all the statements are read thoroughly, it seems that the money trailed from Dubai to Qatar, then to Saudi Arab and London.
Jamaat-e-Islami counsel Asad Manzoor Butt once again requested the five-strong bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Anwar Zaheer Jamali to form a probe commission to conduct inquiry on corruption charges leveled in Panama Papers.
Commenting on lawyer of Jamaat-e-Islami’s request regarding formation of the commission, the CJP said the court was keeping an open mind on the idea of forming a commission on the matter.
The CJP voiced displeasure that National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) did nothing; accordingly, the court fixed the matter for hearing.
“National institutions are not functioning. They are burden on national coffers. If they are not willing to work, they should be shut down,” Justice Jamali remarked.
Addressing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Naeem Bukhari, the court said he was repeating the same old arguments. Bukhari submitted that Hussain Nawaz is living in London since 1994; but he did not tell as to how money was sent to London.
Salman Butt, the counsel of the Prime Minister submitted before the bench that Maryam Nawaz is not dependent on his client. He referred to the income tax returns as well as the nomination papers filed by his client in 2013 saying all details about properties were declared in them and nothing was withheld.
Also, the premier’s children submitted a petition through their counsel Akram Sheikh in the Supreme Court requesting for day-to-day hearing of the case.
“The issue is very critical and institutions are getting affected,” stated the petition.
Naeem Bukhari argued, “PM said the capital from the sale of Dubai factory was used for Jeddah mills,” adding Nawaz Sharif committed tax evasions as he took gifts worth Rs. 740 million from Hussain Nawaz from 2014 to 2015, but he never paid taxes on the these gifts.Bukhari also said Maryam Nawaz is PM’s dependant and beneficial owner of London estates.He reiterated that the prime minister for long had been misleading the nation through false statements on the corruption charges against him.
The PTI lawyer argued Hassan Nawaz said in 1999, “I live in a rented flat (in London). I receive rent money from Pakistan that is not paid by my father. Instead, the rent is sent from a business that my grandfather initiated.”
Reacting on this argument, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said there seems a discrepancy between the standpoints of Hassan Nawaz and Qatari Prince, adding, “Rent money was routed from Pakistan to Qatar and then to London.”
Justice Sheikh Azmat said, “If all the statements are read all together, then, it seems the money went from Dubai to Qatar, then Saudi Arab and then to London.”
Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed argued that trust deed submitted by Sharif family was forged. He alleged that Sharif family committed money laundering and embezzled motorway project funds.
Sheikh also claimed that Sharif family still has $300 million dollars in Swiss banks. -DNA
