Panama leaks: SHC CJ dissatisfied over plea against Sharif family
The hearing was adjourned for an indefinite period of time
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Sindh High Court (SHC) adjourned hearing of a plea over Panama leaks against Sharif family for an indefinite period of time stating that the petitioner did not satisfy the court, Dunya News reported Friday.
A two member-bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Sajjad Ali Shah heard the plea filed by Moulvi Iqbal Haider.
As the judges proceeded with the hearing, they asked the petitioner to present Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s declaration of assets. The petitioner replied that it was with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Matters about assets are supposed to be in hands of parents and not children, the court remarked. The Chief Justice ordered the petitioner to follow procedure and fulfill the requirements for the court to first decide whether the plea is admissible or not.
The hearing was adjourned for an indefinite period of time.
On Thursday, Lahore High Court (LHC) admitted a plea regarding Sharif family’s alleged tax evasion using offshore companies as revealed by Panama Papers. The high court issued notices to the Prime Minister among six family members for alleged illegal wealth stashed abroad.
Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan heard the case and summoned replies from the notified persons on April 18. Petitioner’s counsel, Barrister Iqbal Jaffery maintained that PM Nawaz’s family accumulated illegal assets worth billions of Pakistani Rupees in foreign countries at expense of national treasure.
He referenced Panama Papers in the case highlighting the recent leak of a law firm’s documents. The petitioner requested the court to order return of Sharif family’s assets to Pakistan.
Earlier this week, around 140 world leaders were alleged of offshore dealings and stashing money using tax havens after a document-leak in Panama’s law firm.
The leaked documents, reported by Panama Papers mentioned Nawaz Sharif’s family among others. Prime Minister’s son confirmed owning offshore companies and trashed calls for action against the first family terming the procedure adopted by them completely legal.
The Prime Minister also took the nation in confidence over a television broadcast three days ago. He had announced establishment of a judicial commission to probe the issue.
PM’s daughter who was directly named in the leaks, Maryam Safdar rubbished the accusations and challenged the opposition to prove illegality.
Opposition in the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly rejected the PM-formed judicial commission. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Mehmoodur Rasheed stated that commission comprising of retired judges is not acceptable. He demanded off the Prime Minister to hand over the probe to in-service judges of the Supreme Court.
Yesterday, in the National Assembly, opposition demanded international audit of Sharif family’s assets.
Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah said that the judicial commission would not be able to find any evidence even after three years, as they were experts on criminal law but didn’t know anything about an audit. He further added that it was not the job of the judges to conduct audits.
The Panama leaks have named at least 200 Pakistanis and 500 Indians including megastar Amitabh Bachan.
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