Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s counsel on Wednesday expressed inability to submit a complete documentary record on the money trail through which the ruling Sharif family had acquired luxury flats in a posh London neighbourhood. “We cannot submit records dating back to 40 years showing a liability of 36 million Dirhams and an investment of 12 million Dirhams in Qatar,” the premier’s counsel, Salman Aslam Butt, stated.

A top court bench, which is currently hearing several petitions filed in the wake of the Panamagate scandal, is mainly focused on the money trail through which the ruling Sharif family had acquired the London flats. The Panama Papers in April revealed that Premier Nawaz Sharif’s children were among dozens of powerful people who had secreted their money in offshore holdings.

Butt further said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) possessed the entire company record in 1999. However, he maintained despite the Lahore High Court’s order to return it, NAB is yet to provide the complete record. A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court hearing the petitions was not impressed with Butt’s contention and said unavailability of record was not a valid reason.

“PM Nawaz himself claimed the whole record regarding the purchase of London flats is available but now you are saying you forgot,” Justice Asif Khosa chided. “This is not a valid reason and you should explain the record before the court,” he added. The bench further told the premier’s counsel they should have not made contradictory statements on the money trail in public speeches. “This is a dangerous line of defence” Justice Khosa warned. Justice Ijazul Ahsan also observed the premier never mentioned Qatari investments in his speeches.

The bench, however, upheld the premier was honourable till allegations levelled against him were proven. “The top court had maintained the former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf was honourable till allegations were proven against him and the same applies to PM Nawaz. However, we will ask questions,” the bench said.

The top court once again proposed forming a commission for examining the documentary evidences in the Panamagate case. The bench has given 30 minutes to PTI and PML-N to respond to the suggestion. However, PTI sought time to give its consent over the SC’s proposal regarding the formation of commission. The court, accepting PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari’s, plea adjourned the hearing till Friday.

PTI’s chairman Imran Khan said they will hold consultations with regard to formation of a judicial commission and come up with a decision on the next hearing. Imran said the PTI pointed out in the court that all institutions were working under the premier and thus he should present his resignation. The PTI chairman said that the government failed to produce documents of the London’s Mayfair flats as against its earlier claim of possessing the evidence. No evidence relating to the letter of the Qatari prince was submitted either, he added, and Nawaz Sharif was slowly but surely being exposed.