The Supreme Court on Thursday began its hearing of the Panama Papers case around 9:30am on Thursday.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal and comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan conducted their fourth consecutive hearing following the submission of the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) submitted its report.
Lawyer Salman Akram Raja is representing Maryam, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz in the case.
The legal counsel of PM children began his arguments before the bench today.
Justice Azmat observed that all of Raja's documents were debated in the media while Justice Ejaz remarked that the counsel can maybe give the arguments before the media as well.
“You’ve been conducting a trial in the media — all the documents [submitted to the court] have already been discussed in the media," remarked Justice Saeed, quoted Dawn.
“There’s a media dais outside, you should give your arguments there as well.”
In response, Raja said he did not provide the media with any material. The PM’s children counsel further provided with documents, including court documents detailing cargo shipments from UAE to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Raja also presented a document from JPCA accounting firm which deals the ownership of Nelson and Nescol companies. The document from Minerva Financial Services Limited. Another documents showing a deal between Prime Minister's cousin Tariq Shafi and Muhammad Abdullah Ahli regarding selling his 25pc shares in Ahli Steel Mill.
Justice Ijaz commented that additional documents are submitted whenever questions are raised.
Raja also submitted a 17-page objection on the JIT report to the court, pleading for dismissal of the report and its 'evidence'. The application objects to the source material used by the JIT in its final report, saying it is unverified.
Justice Amzat counselled Raja to not dismiss the JIT's findings but instead prove them wrong with supporting documents.
Addressing the counsel, Justice Azmat said you have to answer law firm Mossack Fonseca's claim that Maryam is the owner of the London properties.
Justice Ijaz inquired from Raja regarding the Azizia Mills' money trail "We been asking for a year and a half now as to how the money got to Jeddah but there has been no response so far," observed Justice Ijaz.
On Justice Ijaz inquiry, Raja stated that 63million Ryal came into bank account of the mill. Raja replied that 63million Ryal came into the account and we should discuss events after that, to which Justice Azmat Saeed remarked "it is not that easy as this arguments gives the hint that there was some secret hand behind that money.”
"No one is ready to give the money trail," Justice Azmat remarked.
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