Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Justice Azmat Saeed on Wednesday said that there is no direct link between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the London property.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Naeem Bukhari concluded his arguments on the sixth day of the Panamagate case hearing before a larger bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.

The PTI counsel cited the provisions of BVI Business Companies Act 2004 stating that the bearer certificates were not registered under the said Act at the time these were transferred to Hussain Nawaz, the premier’s son.

He said that bearer certificate is not similar to prize bonds and holder of these certificates is the owner of offshore companies, adding that under the said Act registration of bearer certificate is essential.

“Under the said Act bearer certificate needs entry into register. If the Qatari prince was holding the certificates then his name would have entered in register in 2004 and they (respondents’ counsels) have to give details,” said Bukhari.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked whether the Act has retrospective effects to which Bukhari replied that the Sharifs’ lawyers have to respond regarding details from the date of enactment of the Act till the transfer of bearer certificates’ ownership of Nielson and Nescoll.

“Assuming the Qatari prince intervention, they (respondents’ counsels) have to give the details of prince’s registration before the transfer,” argued Bukhari, adding that otherwise respondents’ defense would collapse.

“We have yet to determine when the flats purchased,” observed Justice Azmat Saeed.

On the dependency of Maryam Safdar, Bukhari relied upon Black Law, saying that dependency means relation between two persons in which one relies on the other.

He said further Maryam did not have money for offshore companies while her father Nawaz Sharif gifted her in millions for the purpose.

“It has to be examined whether she is entirely dependent because living with father does not mean she is dependent,” Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan observed.

After the conclusion of Bukhari’s arguments, Awami Muslim League President Sheikh Rasheed took to the rostrum to plead his petition arguing that it is not the case of any political party but the case of entire nation.

He alleged that the top ranked officers are paid handsome amount to keep the secrets of these big shots.

The Court Room No II echoed with laughter when Sheikh Rasheed termed the Qatari letter as Rescue 1122 for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and a novel of Razia Butt.

However, Justice Saeed snubbed the audience, saying that the court knows how to deal with such situation.