Panama Papers case: PM's children submit replies in Supreme Court
SC had ordered the premier's three children Maryam, Hassan and Hussain to respond to the notices.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – In compliance with the Supreme Court’s order in Panama Papers case, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s children Maryam, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz have submitted their written replies in the apex court today (Monday).
On Thursday, a five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali had given the premier’s children a “last chance” to submit their own statements to the court by Monday.
In their written reply submitted by PM’s lawyer Salman Aslam Butt, Maryam, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz denied holding any offshore companies.
“They are not public office bearers. They are only trusties,” the lawyer said.
He said Maryam Nawaz has revealed details of all the assets and she regularly pays taxes. She is only ‘trustee’ of British Virgin Islands-based firms Nielsen Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited and she has not been a beneficiary of any offshore company.
He said all the allegations levelled against Maryam Nawaz are baseless.
READ: Maryam Nawaz doesn’t own any offshore company, husband tells SC
Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz also rejected the allegations leveled in the petitions. They said they are not dependent on the Prime Minister and that they are non-resident Pakistanis and conducting business outside the country over the last many years.
The apex court directed all the parties to place on record all the documents on the next hearing in support of their case as no other opportunity will be given in this regard.
In his remarks, Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali said every step and order of the court will be fully in accordance with law and the constitution.
He said the prime minister has presented himself for accountability. He said the court will not give any message of discrimination or pick and choose in the case.
The case hearing has been adjourned till November 15.
AVOID SPECULATIONS
Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb has expressed the confidence that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will get a clean chit in Panama Papers case.
She said the prime Minister does not own any offshore company but he presented himself for accountability.
Maryam Aurangzeb urged the media to cover the proceedings of the Supreme Court and speculations should be avoided.
READ: Panama leaks expose offshore companies controlled by 140 politicians including Sharif family
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer told the Supreme Court that his client does not own any shell companies or property through offshore holdings. The premier did not address the offshore links of his children.
The same day, the Supreme Court also appointed a one-person commission to investigate the Panama Papers case and decided to set its own terms of reference for the probe if the political parties failed to reach consensus.
The commission will be led by a Supreme Court judge and will have the full powers of the court at its disposal to investigate the scandal that has dogged the Sharif family since April.
