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Panamagate: Summoning details of gifts in writing SC adjourns hearing till tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa adjourned the hearing of the case seeking declaring Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to hold his position over the revelation of the names of his children in the Panama Papers till tomorrow after directing submission of written details of all the gifts given by Hussain Nawaz to his father Nawaz Sharif and those given by Nawaz Sharif to his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

Counsel of the prime minister Makhdoom Ali Khan continuing his argument his side of the case from yesterday said that his client the prime minister gave gifts to his daughter Maryam Nawaz through banks and thus allegation of tax theft is incorrect because the exchange of funds between the prime minister and his children were done through banks.

When Justice Gulzar asked Makhdoom why the bank record was not verified and that the said documents should had been submitted with the reply Makhdoom replied that it could be done if the court so wishes because acquiring certificates from all the banks was a difficult process.

At this point Justice Ijaz Afzal said that if the court accept unverified documents the documents of the other party should have to be accepted as well. The criteria for both the parties will be the same, he added.

Replying to this Makhdoom said that keeping bank record secret is the basic right of everyone to which the court said that he wants to hide something from the court?

A little later Justice Ijazul Hassan said that the court would like to see that $ 1.9 million was received through the banks to which Makhdoom replied that he accepts receiving the gifts and documents are not necessary for that but the details of the accounts would be provided if the court calls for it.

Justice Ijazul Hassan saying that these gifts were given by Hussain Nawaz in 2010 while the Jeddah Steel Mill was sold in 2005 asked if Hussain Nawaz had more businesses besides the steel mill? Makhdoom replied that Hussain Nawaz has other businesses in Saudi Arabia. Hussain Nawaz’s counsel is here and that he would give an explanation, he added.

What is the status of the NTN [National Tax Number] of the people who remain outside the country for extended time, Justce Ijazul Hassan asked to which Makhdoom replied that even if one dies the NTN remains.

At this point Justice Khosa saying that a part of the case is about money laundering and it alleged that the funds were transferred overseas illegally addressed Mahdoom and said that he would have to give details of transfer of funds to which Makhdoom replied the initial question is if any money was sent from Pakistan. I would not try to hide behind any technical point, he added.

Justice Khosa said that there had been investigations before and names of some people were revealed. To this Justice Khosa added that Ishaq Dar’s confessional state had also surfaced and confessional statement also had names of many more people. The investigations about money laundering were rejected over technical basis and NAB did not appeal against the decision, Justice Ijaz added.

Here the court took a break.

Resuming his argument after the court break Makhdoom said that his client never accepted the allegation that Maryam Nawaz is his dependent and that he mentioned himself and his wife as dependents in his nomination papers and that Dr Yasmin Rashid has filed the reference just recently. When he said that Shahid Hamid too will assist the court over the dependent issue Justice Khosa said how could the court hear two counsels in the same issue.

When Makhdoom said that Maryam’s name was written in column for dependent because there was no relevant column on the tax form Justice Gulzar saying that the amendment in the tax form was made in 2015 asked when did Panama surface? When Makhdoom said that Nawaz Sharif bought real estate in Maryam’s name in 2011 Justice Gulzar asked whether that property was unnamed?

It is possible, said Justice Khosa, that this was black money- the son send the money to father who purchased land in his daughter’s name. At this point addressing Makhdoom Justice Azmat Saeed said we are not talking in Persian tell us the fiscal records, we know what is your argument, there is no document on record about money transfer, the court should be informed of all gifts in writing.

Replying Makhdoom said that all the gifts from Hussain Nawaz are mentioned in tax returns, he sent 20 million in 2012, he gave 12.98 million gifts in 2012.

Justice Ijaz commenting said that in our society parents give money to children but in your case it is being different, During four years Hussain Nawaz gifted his father Rs 520 million which gives an impression that the money is making rounds. We want to know the source of money, from where such heavy sums are coming, he added.

At this point in time Justice Azmat Saeed said that the date of land’s purchase and dates the son gave gifts to his father are important. As per stamp papers the deal was finalized on March 1, how the draft deed was made in February, Justice Ijaz asked.

Here Justice Ijaz said that the documents over land purchase are not being submitted to which Makhdoom said that all the documents would be brought on record by Maryam Nawaz’s counsel Shahid Hamid. Justice Khosa said that no watch was gifted but money was continuously gifted may be the rich’s gifts are like this.

Here Justice Azmat said that some one has to answer about the money, as per the record there was no earning from the offshore companies. Makhdoom replied that sons have businesses from which the money is coming. Justice Ijaz asked Makhddom about the reasons giving money as gift while Justice Azmat enquired from which business such huge money is coming, has the father asked his sons from where such huge monies are coming from? Replying Makhdoom said that the prime minister is aware of his children’s business to which Justice Azmat said that no record is being presented  from which facts could be unearthed.

Has prime minister ever said that children own flats, Justice Khosa asked adding that the issue is enormous and possible may take time. Justice Ijaz asked why Hussain Nawaz gave gifts only to his father while Justice Azmat said that none of the parties want finding the trace, what could we do?

At this point the court directing submission of details of gifts given to Nawaz Sharif by his son Hussain Nawaz and also the gifts given by Nawaz Sharif to his daughter Maryam Nawaz adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.