No record of Sharif family’s past business deals, counsel tells SC

islamabad — The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned hearing of four identical petitions, filed by PTI and others, seeking investigation into Panama Papers till Thursday.

A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmad, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, heard the case.

As the apex court resumed hearing of the case after 15 days which was put on hold due to health condition of a bench member, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa thanked all those who prayed for the early recovery of Justice Azmat.

Salman Akram Raja, counsel for Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, picked up his arguments where he had left them off.

He said that the Panama case

article 10 of the constitution says that every citizen deserves a fair trial and departments, formed under the law, may be allowed to do their job Salman Akram Raja, counsel for Hassan and Hussain Nawaz

had three aspects: the Prime Minister’s speech, official records, and steps taken by the prime minister.

Raja said that this was neither a trial, nor the defendant had a status of witness. He said that he would argue the case on the basis of evidence, presented before the court.

He said that the record of Sharif family’s business dealings for the last 40 to 45 years could not be reproduced as it was lost during the military takeover in 1999. He argued that the court cannot reach a just conclusion in the case without first conducting a judicial inquiry.

He said that Article 10 of the Constitution says that every citizen deserves a fair trial and departments, formed under the law, may be allowed to do their job.

He argued that there is no charge against the prime minister, thus, no charge against his children.

Moving on to issue of London flats, Salman Akram Raja said that these flats were bought by Qatar’s Al Thani family between 1993 and 1996.

The shares for these flats were given to Minerva Financial Services in 2006, he added.

Salman Akram Raja was still arguing the case when the court adjourned the hearing till Thursday.

AP Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan talking to reporters outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad on Wednesday. Imran and others have initiated the Panama Papers case in the Supreme Court. —

AP file Gen. Bajwa says terrorists will be hunted across the country, held accountable and responded to. —