Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The counsel for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons – Hassan and Hussain Nawaz – has expressed his inability to explain the money trail for investment in the real estate business as well as the ownership of two offshore companies Neilson and Nescoll that acquired Landon flats in 1993.

Salman Akram Raja, appearing on behalf of the PM’s sons in the Panamagate case, told the court that his clients had no documents that could prove who originally established the two offshore companies.

He, however, contended that the Sharif family owned Landon flats through settlement with a Qatari family in 2006, but the flats were in occupation of the Sharifs since 1993, as both Hassan and Hussain were studying there.

Earlier, Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that the Qatari affidavit was a subsequent document, and asked if any document was available regarding the initial investment.

“Obviously Hamad (Qatari prince) would have some documents. If he can provide affidavits then why can’t he provide all the documents on your request?” asked Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

Salman Akram Raja told the court that late Mian Sharif, the premier’s father, had invested the money in the Qatari family’s real estate business, so the record was not available with the grandchildren.

To this, Justice Gulzar Ahmad observed that the Qatari letter showed total “disconnection of events”.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, who heads the five-judge larger bench, expressed annoyance and observed that the counsel for the premier contended that the property was owned by the children, so they were answerable, then the counsel for Maryam Nawaz argued that his client was the only trustee, and now the PM’s sons were saying that the documents were not available.

Justice Khosa told the counsel that if he did not want to make the position clear then he was playing a big gamble. He said that the court could presume that Mian Sharif invested 12 million dirhams in the real estate business of Qatar, and there could be a possibility that the Landon flats were acquired by the Qatari family by utilising the late Sharif’s money.