The federal capital is abuzz with speculation that 30 November, the next date of hearing for the Panama papers, maybe seen in the context of one day after the retirement of Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif. However, Barrister Ali Zafar, former president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), dispelled the impression, saying the apex court has nothing to do with the retirement of the army chief.
"I don't think the apex court is working that way...the courts are completely independent and they're doing their job without any influence and pressure and it would be wrong to say the court adjourned the hearing of the case [Panama papers] for the day after the retirement of the army chief," he maintained.
He further stated that the apex court would definitely try to dispose of the Panama papers case involving three children of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, before the retirement of Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali as he's heading the five-member larger bench. Chief Justice Jamali would retire on December 30. Barrister Ali Zafar, however, added that the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice would not affect the case, as working of institutions has nothing to do with individuals; but reiterated that in this particular case, the Chief Justice is heading the larger bench, and the bench will try to dispose of the case before his retirement.
Renowned lawyer Asma Jehnagir, former president SCBA, stated that the retirement of the army chief has nothing to do with the working of the judiciary. "Army chiefs come and go, and the judiciary is a separate institution which is doing its job independently, and to say why it's doing this and that is not comprehensible," she added. She also said that the days are gone when institutions used to work under the orders of 'Mughul-e-Azam', adding all institutions whether military or judiciary, perform their constitutional duties quite independently.
Shafqat Mehmood, MNA of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose party is the lead petitioner in Panama papers case, also rejected the rumours saying the hearing date had no relevance to army chief's retirement. "I don't think that the court hearing date [November 30] of Panama papers case had any relevance to CoAS retirement...we've full faith in our courts and are quite satisfied the way the apex court is conducting the proceedings of the Panama Papers case," he added.
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