The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would have to produce solid evidence to substantiate its plea seeking accountability of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Leaks case. The apex court also remarked that ascertaining Prime Minister Sharif's children's ownership of Mayfair flats in London shall lead to a decision in the matter.
A five-member larger bench led by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali resumed the hearing of pleas seeking accountability of Mian Nawaz Sharif over his alleged involvement in Panama Leaks. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) counsel Hamid Khan presented arguments at length before the bench which were based on the Prime Minister's addresses to the nation and his speech on the floor of National Assembly soon after the Panama Papers controversy emerged.
During the proceedings of the case, Hamid Khan raised questions over the income sources of the Sharif family, submitting that Nawaz Sharif has not mentioned in his speeches when Gulf Steel of the UAE was sold and when Mayfair property in London was purchased. Hamid Khan categorically emphasised that Prime Minister Sharif had expressed to step down if the allegations against him were proved. At this point a member of the bench, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, gave a smile, and said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had himself said that he would step down.
Justice Khosa remarked, "Allegations of Panama Leaks have been levelled against our elected Prime Minister so the matter should be decided as early as possible. The matter will be decided in accordance with relevancy of the facts of the case." Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, another member of the bench, termed statement of Nawaz Sharif a political statement. Justice Sheikh observed that Hamid Khan was trying a lot not to proceed the case through producing contents of the Prime Minister's statements.
He further said that the both parties have no confrontation over the ownership of the offshore companies of Hussain Nawaz (Nawaz Sharif's son), adding that documents show Mian Sharif was the owner of Gulf Steel, the UAE. Justice Sheikh expressed that documents revealed Bank of Credit and Commerce International's (BCCI) financing, saying if share of a company is not transferred then bearer certificates of a company are issued, adding that in the present matter bearer certificates were retained in Qatar.
In a lighter mood, Justice Sheikh advised Hamid Khan to trace the respondents' documents for valid evidence, saying the ownership issue of Mayfair flats in London was also raised before the Financial Service Commission of British Virgin Islands. Justice Sheikh was of the view that the case in hand can not be decided on the basis of business or political history of a person (Nawaz Sharif), but on grounds of concrete evidence.
Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali also addressed Hamid Khan, saying: "You have to come up with a solid proof in the case." The Chief Justice inquired about the value of Mayfair properties in London at the time of purchase. Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa plainly observed that the court is not going to reopen business or political life of a person.
Responding to Justice Khosa's query if any investigation agency in the country has issued any finding report in the matter which can help the apex court reach a decision; Hamid Khan alleged that the Prime Minister is dominating every agency of the country. Later, due to want of time, the bench adjourned the hearing of the matter till November 30.