ISLAMABAD: During Panama Leaks hearing, Justice Asif Khosa said that no justification over source of Dubai factory’s money has been presented in the court.
A five-member bench, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, resumed the hearing on Monday. Other judges in the bench include Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahs.
Justice Khosa remarked that Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif had discussed about having excess evidence; but no one is telling the court about the source of 12 million dirham.
Justice Ijaz asked for all the records in order to reveal the truth. The counsel for Maryam Nawaz, Captain (r) Safdar and Ishaq Dar then began presenting his arguments before the five member larger-bench.
Ishaq Dar’s counsel Shahid Hamid informed the apex court that references seeking to disqualify his client before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had been dismissed during an intra-court appeal.
According to the details presented before the court, Ishaq Dar had submitted a request to be pardoned before the NAB on 20th April 2000, which was approved by the Chairman NAB on the very next day.
On 24th of April, the NAB investigating officer had requested to record Dar’s statements which were duly recorded the following day before a magistrate.
Hamid informed the bench that the time to appeal against the court’s earlier ruling had expired, to which Justice Asif Khosa remarked that after Hamid has completed his arguments the bench will ask the prosecutor general in this regard.
The bench demanded to know why the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) did not submit references against the Sharif family, and demanded the Attorney General of Pakistan to submit a written reply before the bench.
Counsel for Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, Salman Akram Raja began his arguments before the court a little before noon on Monday, informing the court that his case has three aspects and he would be arguing on all three. He informed the court that Hussain Nawaz was the beneficial owner of the London flats, adding that Nawaz had no connection with the London flats.
Raja argued before the court that the allegation against his client is that Hussain Nawaz is the front-man and the actual owner is Nawaz Sharif; to which Justice Ijaz Afzal remarked that Salman Akram Raja will have to prove that the assets were his client’s property and that Nawaz Sharif was not the owner of the said property.
The hearing has been adjourned, to resume again tomorrow.
