Panama case implementation bench resumes hearing

ISLAMABAD: The three-member special implementation bench has resumed the Panama Paper case hearing on Tuesday morning.

In today’s hearing, the respondents will present their arguments against the Joint Investigation Team report before the bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan.

The Sharif family had submitted their responses objecting to the mode of the investigation and the petitioners put forward their arguments demanding disqualification of PM on Monday.

The counsel for PML-N is being represented by Khawaja Haris who will present case before the court.

Khawaja Harris initiated the case by reading out the original 13 questions posed by the Supreme Court to the JIT.

Harris argued that the JIT included 'assets beyond means' in its probe and went on to answer 15 questions instead of the original 13, having said that reopening of any case against Nawaz Sharif was not within the jurisdictions of JIT.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed that a number of issues are related to the court's 13 questions and remarked that facts were hidden and answers not provided to the JIT.

Addressing the respondents he said that the premier and his sons’ approach was to not say anything to the JIT, although, everyone was given a chance to defend themselves, it is wrong to say otherwise.

Justice Ejaz in response said the JIT just gave its recommendations whereas any order will be passed by the court.

He said the trial court will decide if including the Hudaibiya Papers Mills case in the JIT report was right or wrong.

With regards to volume 10 of the JIT report which was kept confidential at the request of the JIT, Justice Azmat remarked that they can make the volume public if the counsel requests it.

Justice Ejaz observed that the JIT inquiry is not ongoing anymore whereas Justice Ijaz added that volume 10 does not contain evidence.

Before the start of the hearing, lawyer Salman Akram Raja, representing Nawaz Sharif's children, said he will present his arguments in court tomorrow.