Tayyib Baloch
Islamabad (July 27, 2017): The much-awaited verdict of the Supreme Court on Panamagate might not come before August 15, as two of the judges on the full bench that heard the case will not be available at principal seat in Islamabad before August 11.
Two of the three judges on the special Panama case implementation bench will be out of the city until August 11, revealed the new roster issued by the Supreme Court on Thursday.
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The apex court has formed benches that will hear the cases for the next two weeks — till August 11, Friday.
This could take the much-awaited announcement of the Panama Papers case judgment till after August 14, Monday, which will be a public holiday owing to Independence Day.
Next week, three benches will be hearing cases at principal seat in Islamabad. In the second week of August, two benches will be hearing cases at principal seat in Islamabad.
Justice Ejazul Ahsan, who is one of the members of the special implementation bench, will be going on annual leave from next week.
Another member of the bench Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh will be hearing cases at Lahore Registry from next week.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed will be hearing cases in the apex court’s Lahore Registry while Justice Ijazul Ahsan will be proceeding on leave, reveals the roster.
Only Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, who heads the bench, will be available in Islamabad.
‘There’s still hope’.
As August 12 and 13 will be weekly holiday and August 14 will be public holiday on account of Independence Day celebration, one thing is clear the judges on the bench will not having the opportunity to put their head together to deliberate over the decision of the case.
Therefore, it is expected the decision of Panama verdict will not be forthcoming any time before August 15.
However, addressing the media outside the apex court on Thursday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) counsel in the Panama Papers case, Babar Awan, said there is a chance that a supplementary list is issued Friday morning and the judgment can thus be announced [before the judges leave the city].
SC reserves judgment in Panama Papers case.
He added that there are also times when the Supreme Court can work and issue orders on a Saturday.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday said the Supreme Court should announce the decision regarding the Panama Papers case soon as the country is in a sense of stalemate.
Addressing media representatives, he alleged that the government is trying to save Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s corruption.
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The PTI chairman added that the apex court’s verdict would enable the country to move forward from this issue as the country’s economy is suffering.
“The public is awaiting the Supreme Court’s verdict,” the PTI chief had said.
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Imran Requests SC to Announce Panama Case As Early as Possible
