ISLAMABAD: New development was made in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plea over Panama leaks issue as the lawyers of the prime minister and Jahangir Tareen on Wednesday challenged the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The chief election commissioner and PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer also exchanged harsh words during the hearing. The PM’s counsel Salman Aslam Butt said, “We will respond to the allegations but first it should be decided whether ECP is eligible to hear the petitions or not.” Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawyer Latif Khosa blamed that the PML-N counsel wanted to dictate the ECP while PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer said that he accepted the authority of the ECP and was ready for a debate on the matter. The chief election commissioner expressed his resentment and directed the lawyers to come fully prepared in the next hearing. Subsequently, hearing of the petitions against Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen was adjourned until October 10. Earlier, the Supreme Court (SC) removed objections of registrar over the pleas of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) regarding Panama leaks issue. Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard the case in his chamber in which he said that the decision of declaring the pleas admissible will be taken in open court. Earlier this year, Panama Papers published documents leaked from database of a law firm called Mosack Fonseca that were studied by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The documents named 140 world leaders, including Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and two sons Hussain Nawaz and Hasan Nawaz as owners of various offshore companies. Shell companies generally go with connotation of association with illegal transference of money across countries. The paper, however, did not allege any person mentioned in the documents of using the offshore companies for evading taxes or breaking any law. But, several opposition parties, mainly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf raised the issue and pressed the government prompting the premier to form a parliamentary committee to finalise joint terms of references (TORs) in the light of which the Supreme Court will probe the matter. However, the 12-member committee has not been successful to agree on TORs after several meetings.