ISLAMABAD: (Parliament Times) Â A larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali resumed hearing of Panama Leaks case today on petitions by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and other parties.
The Supreme Court asked both parties to decide over the formation of a commission. The commission will comprise one judge and be able to call anyone as part of the probe.
The Chief Justice remarked that incomplete evidence had been submitted before the court. “Naeem Bukhari has submitted documents downloaded from the internet. Such documents are not admissible evidence,” he said.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that when documents are read it is evident that the prime minister’s lawyer has not answered the questions we asked. “To serve justice this matter has to be investigated,” he said.
Regarding the formation of a commission, PTI’s lawyer Naeem Bukhari asked for a day’s time, while the Prime Minister’s legal team began consultations. The Jamat-e-Islami supported decision of making a commission, adding that the Supreme Court should also formulate the Terms of Reference.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned till December 09.
PM’s counsel presents arguments
During proceedings, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Salman Butt argued that the Prime Minister had not been named directly in the Panama papers. “The Prime Minister is not responsible for every action a member of the Sharif family makes.”
Salman Butt argued that the records are 40 years old and it is difficult for him to find documents.
To this Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that the he was presenting dangerous evidence to defend the PM.
“You should rather say I don’t know how the money was paid,†Justice Ameer Hani Muslim said.
“All these financial matters were between grandfather and grandson,†Justice Ijaz ul Hasan remarked.
Both parties speak more in the media, less in court:SC
The Supreme Court maintained that both parties are speaking more in the media and less inside the courtroom.
“What they say on the media, is opposite to what they say in the court,” the SC maintained.
The court added that when one watches television it seems as if they are talking about some other case. The court said it will give its verdict on the records it has.
Nawaz says he lives in the stoneage: PTI
