Panama Leak: SC Issues Notices To PM Nawaz, Others

Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday issued notices to Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and other parties over the Panamagate petitions seeking the premier’s disqualification.

However; the court dismissed Watan Party’s plea against not establishing commission. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, took up the five constitutional petitions on Panama Leaks issue. The bench also included Justice Ijazul Hassan and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain. 

The Chief Justice remarked that the decision to deem the petitions admissible for hearing will be made after hearing the stance of Attorney General and all other parties mentioned in the petition. He said that the judiciary will keep distance from political matters yet it will interfere only if the basic rights are violated. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Hamid Khan adopted stance during the hearing that Prime Minister only presented himself for accountability but neither made any judicial commission nor took any effective step. 

Read More: NAB To Take Action On Panama Leaks After Collecting Evidences Chairman

Supreme Court while issuing the notices to PM Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Captain Safdar, Ishaq Dar, Attorney General, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) adjourned the hearing for two weeks. Imran Khan expressed satisfaction over the court’s decision and said that he consider it the first step towards accountability.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Awami Muslim League in their petitions have urged the apex court to set up a commission to investigate Panama Leaks issue and for the disqualification of the Prime Minister for concealing assets.