Islamabad (July 17, 2017): The three-member Special bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Ijaz Afzal monitoring the implementation of the judgment of Panama Papers case has begun hearing the case.
This is the first hearing of the case after the submission of the report by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that probed the case as per the orders of the apex court.
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The leaders of the ruling PMLN as well as opposition parties are present in the court.
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At the start of the hearing the counsel of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif plead the court to reject the JIT report because it exceeded the mandate while Bukhari is pleading otherwise.
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Arguing his side of the case Naeem Bukhari argued that the court has to make decision about the JIT report. The Sharif family had claimed that that Gulf Steel was sold for 33 million Dirhams while JIT declared the sworn statement of Tariq Shafi a lie, Bukhari said. In addition the JIT has also called the agreement made on April 14, 1990 self-prepared, he added.
Continuing his argument Bukhari further said that Tariq Shafi’s representation was made by Shahbaz Sharif while JIT secured legal assistance in the UAE and in addition contradictions were found in the statements of Tariq Shafi and Hussain Nawaz. Shahbaz Sharif himself got himself distanced from the matter. The JIT has declared the 12 million Dirhams Qatari investment a story, he added.
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At one point during the hearing Justice Azmat Saeed remarked that mentioning Qatari was n’t necessary while Justice Ijaz Afzal said that Shahbaz Sharif’s statement could be used to highlight contradiction.
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Naeem further said that the documents of the London firm are not certified but JIT accepted them as correct.
Pleading his case before the special implementation bench of the apex court counsel of the Sharif family said that JIT crossed its mandate and the attitude of its members was unjust. The JIT report is based on assumptions, he added. Khawaja Harris also submitted the objections over the HIT report in the court. He also asked the court for the Volume No. 10 of the JIT report.
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At another point one of the judge said that there is no room if Nawaz Sharif is incompetent.
Meanwhile, talking to media outside the court the leader of PTI Babar Awan said that ‘now Godfather 2 will also be declared incompetent. Secretary information PTI Naeemul Haq claimed that Nawaz Sharif has no supporter left. Yet another PTI leader Fawad Chaudhary said that it looks that now resignation would be taken instead of given.
Talking to media Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq said that every single page of the JIT report carried a tale of corruption. Vhief of Awami Muslim League Shaikh Rasheed accused the rulers trying to fuel civil war in the country. Leader of PMLQ Chaudhary Shujaat said that the Supreme Court is doing what the parliament should had done. Chief of MQM Pakistan Farooq Sattar said that the prime minister would be facing the court after resigning from his seat of power.
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Meanwhile, talking to media Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that the opponents are scared of the revolutionary measures of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Imran Khan has nothing which is based on fact, he goes to sleep and wakes up every day as if he is prime minister. The self-made JIT report distorted the facts. Fables of Musharraf, Imran, and Shaikh Rasheed would become a part of history, he added lashing out at opponents.
The hearing is being held under stringent security with mesh wire around the building of the Supreme Court and the Red Zone here.
Seven hundred personnel of the Islamabad police are deputed. Personnel of Rangers and local administration will also be present inside the court and the outside areas.
The court will hear the arguments of both the parties. It may be mentioned here that the Panama JIT had submitted its report exactly a week ago on July 10.
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SC Adjourns Hearing of Panama Implementation Case till Monday
