Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Granting seven more days, the top court on Monday directed the parties in the Panamagate case to place all documentary evidences on which they were relying for proceedings.

“We deem it appropriate to direct all the parties to these proceedings to place on record all the documents on which they intend to rely in support of their respective case,” the Supreme Court ruled after hearing the Panamagate related petitions. The court ruled that no further opportunity, pertaining to request for time to submit documents, will be available to the parties during the proceedings before the Commission. “It is all the more necessary for the reason that this court may also able to go through these documents before deciding the question of appointment of commission or otherwise,” the court further ruled.

However the top court clarified that this order would not curtail its authority to call for any record. A five judge larger bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali resumed the hearing of Panamagate petitions.
When the hearing started, one of the petitioners advocate Tariq Asad took the plea that an impression was being given that the matter relates to only Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while 400 other companies or people are also named in Panama Papers. The CJ, while responding to a plea, termed the Panama Papers a ‘bitter pill’, and observed that the court was doing things which were not its job, adding that the matter would be prolonged to several years if an investigation was carried out.

During the course of the hearing, counsel for the prime minister and his children Salman Aslam Butt told the bench that Hussain and Hassan Nawaz have denied the allegations, adding that Hassan Nawaz has been running a business lawfully for the last 22 years and Hussain for 16 years abroad. Both sons in their reply stated that they are not dependent on Nawaz Sharif, as well as non-resident, settled and conducting their lawful business outside Pakistan.
Justice Khosa said if the decision went against the government, then the prime minister has already said he will not remain in office. The case has been adjourned to November 15.