SC asks how Sharifs set up factory in Jeddah

Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa on Thursday questioned if the Sharif family's business was closed in Pakistan during the Musharraf regime then what was its source of a huge sum of money that was used to set up a factory in Jeddah. A five-member larger bench led by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa resumed the hearing of pleas filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami, Awami Muslim League and a lawyer, Tariq Asad.
Justice Khosa observed that the company manager of the Sharif family's business, Haroon Pasha, had said in interviews that entire documentary record of the Sharif family's money trail has been provided to lawyers to produce before the court. Justice Khosa said that Nawaz Sharif's counsel on December 9 expressed his inability to produce the money trail.
Advancing his arguments, the PTI counsel, Naeem Bokhari, said that the letter of Qatari prince Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani that the Sharif family has produced before the court was self-crafted and has no legal value. Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh remarked that the letter cannot be ignored because the children of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif are fully depending on the letter in the case.
Another member of the bench, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, remarked if the letter was a 'self-crafted' document then why PTI's counsel was citing it repeatedly. Bokhari said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his wife and children have not mentioned the letter during their interviews. Justice Gulzar Ahmed said that prima facie such letters are based on memory of someone, saying the court has to examine the letter in detail.
The PTI counsel produced newspaper clippings and transcripts of television interviews of Nawaz Sharif and his family members; to which, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa observed that his client (Imran Khan) will also be affected if the bench resolved to decide the matter on the basis of newspaper clippings. Bokhari said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received Rs 740 milllion form his son during the last four years and didn't pay tax, saying London flats have been owned by the children of Nawaz Sharif for two decades. Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh said it is the responsibility of the petitioner to provide proof in this regard.
Bokhari pleaded that Mariam Nawaz remained dependent of Nawaz Sharif, adding that she is still a dependent of Nawaz Sharif to which the court said it has to be determined what constitutes the meaning of "dependent" under the law. During the proceedings, Justice Khosa observed if the Sharif family decides to contradict previous interviews regarding the Mayfair properties then the apex court could summon them. However, Justice Khosa remarked if anyone denies one's media statements then one will have to record statements, adding that Nawaz Sharif never stated that the London properties are owned by his son Hussain Nawaz; likewise, during interviews Hussain Nawaz has referred to London flats as "our flats" and not "my flats." The hearing of matter was adjourned to Friday (today).