ISLAMABAD: A three-judge Supreme Court bench seized with the Panamagate implementation case adjourned the hearing on the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report till Tuesday (tomorrow).
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Khawaja Haris was on his feet putting forward his arguments when the judges rose for the day. The counsel for other parties concluded their arguments over the JIT findings and unanimously pleaded with the judges to disqualify the prime minister.
The bench of the apex court comprised of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Hassan resumed the hearing today on the JIT report submitted on the offshore wealth of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family.
The Sharifs’ legal team has filed the objections in the court, rejecting the report in its entirety. It termed the findings biased, politically motivated and an attempt to tarnish the image of the prime minister and his family while pleading to judges to nullify the report. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also filed his objections to the report.
PTI PLEADS WITH SC TO DISQUALIFY PM
Concluding his arguments over the JIT findings, PTI lawyer Naeem Bukhari requested the judges to summon the premier to cross examine him in light of the findings. He also pleaded with them to disqualify him for he had failed to defend allegations against him and his family.
Bukhari argued that the Qatari letter was a concocted story and added that the JIT wrote four letters to Qatari prince to record his statement but he failed. The probing team rejected the Qatari royal’s letter and held that it was unnecessary to record his testimony, he added.
When asked about authenticity of the documents with regard to Jeddah Steel Mills, Al-Azizia Steel Mills, and Hill Metals Establishment, PTI lawyer said these documents were not verified though they were considered accurate by the investigators.
PM’S OFFSHORE COMPANY
PTI lawyer Naeem Bukhari opened his arguments with findings of the Panama JIT report, highlighting inconsistencies and contradictions in the statements of the Sharifs about their assets.
Justice Azmat inquired as to how documents showing PM Nawaz Sharif owning an offshore company, Capital FZE, were acquired. Whether these documents were valid and acquired through a legal process, he asked.
To which, Bukhari replied that these documents were acquired through a legal aid. PM’s son Hussain Nawaz stated the company was dissolved in 2014 and no other family member was associated with it, he said and added, however, the documents proved otherwise as Mr Sharif was found to be chairman of the company’s board.
Justice Azmat observed that the documents showed the PM had been receiving remunerations, but not monthly salary.
“According to the documents, the salary of the premier was ten thousand riyals and these documents bore his signature,” argued Bukhari.
LONDON FLATS
Bukhari told the judges that Maryam Nawaz Sharif was the real owner of the
