ISLAMABAD, November 15: Observing that investigating corruption is not its job, the Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned hearing into Panamagate scandal involving Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members.
The hearing was resumed by a five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP), Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali. Other bench members are Justice Asif Saeed Khose, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Shaikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz Ul Hassan.
The bench observed that PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s petition has been admitted for hearing as a test case. The CJP observed that it’s not Supreme Court’s job to investigate corruption. “If we started accountability since 1945, this matter can never be resolved,” a judge said in his remarks.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz submitted documentary evidence in support of their statements regarding their family assets.
While Maryam Nawaz submitted the evidence required by the court, her brothers Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, both of whom live abroad, failed to submit relevant documents.
A tome of 397-page documents was submitted by Attorney General Salman Akram Butt, the counsels of the Prime Minister, and Akram Sheikh, the lawyer of Maryam, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz with details of tax returns, instruments of property and information on Nawaz Sharif’s businesses and properties along with a letter from a Qatari prince stating he gave money to Sharif family for London flats.
The five-member larger bench expressed its disappointment over failure of the premier’s sons to comply with court orders to submit evidence within stipulated time.
The bench observed that there are discrepancies between PM’s documents and his public statement regarding his Jeddah steel mill, Gulf Steel Mill and London flats; however, Akram Sheikh contended that not even a single penny was shifted abroad from the country.
The CJP directed Akram Sheikh to satisfy the court by proving that money that was sent abroad was through legal means. The court in its order said the copies of the documents should be exchanged with the parties for examination and review.
During the hearing, an individual lawyer Tariq Asad requested not to announce verdict in hurry on which Chief Justice said the court would not do injustice to anyone.
Tariq Asad appealed the court to probe into the matter since 1948 but the CJP refused, saying that investigation of corruption is not responsibility of SC. He also directed the lawyers to consult relevant courts for the corruption in other issues.
CJP remarked third section of article 184 is not applicable everywhere. He also asked lawyer Tariq Asad if he is trying to detract the case. Anwar Zaheer Jamali said now, the issue is related to formation of the commission.
Meanwhile, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed expressed resentment over opposition for submitting 6636 documents related to previous corruption cases. He said that cuttings of newspapers are not evidence as they are useless when the news get old.
The bench said that we cannot investigate the matter since 1982 as we are humans not computers in which you just put papers for immediate verification. The counsel of Jamat-e-Islami urged the court to form commission over Panamagate issue.
Justice Azmat remarked that the judicial bench would go through all the records and documents before the constitution of the commission while he said that parties have to justify their statements if they refuse any document.
On the other hand, Supreme Court disposed of plea pertaining to stop sit-in over ineffective stance.
Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan submitted to the SC evidence relating to Panama Papers case against PM Nawaz Sharif. The additional documents contained details regarding different bank accounts and waiver of loans.
Imran Khan’s counsel Naeem Bukhari submitted 686-page documents regarding the assets of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his children at SC Registrar Office. Documents contain details of Sharif family’s bank accounts and proof of written-off loan.
According to the documents, the Sharif family siphoned off abroad an amount worth 56 million rupee through hundi from 1988 to 1991. However, the tax returns filed by Sharif family had no mention of this money sent out of the country.
Nawaz Sharif, in the meantime, paid a meager tax worth Rs.987. Sharif family’s money-laundering was laid bare by Nawaz Sharif’s business partner Khalid Siraj.
The PTI’s documents state that Sharif family took loans of worth Rs.6146 million from banks making a progress at staggering pace in era of Nawaz Sharif as chief minister of Punjab, from only a factory when he was a finance minister.
On November 3, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif defended himself before the Supreme Court, claiming that he does not own any shell companies or property through offshore holdings. However, he did not address the offshore links of his children.
Submitting replies on their behalf on November 7, Counsel Salman Butt said Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz are not public office holders. The counsel said that Maryam Nawaz is not dependant of the prime minister.
The PMLN-led government and opposition parties have been locked in dispute about the response to the Panama Papers since April. -DNA
