Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday denied holding offshore companies in a written response to the Supreme Court on Panamagate petitions.
In his reply, Sharif said he had declared all his assets in 2013, hence he was not liable for disqualification under the Constitution.
Expressing displeasure over the failure of Sharif family’s counsel to submit a reply on behalf of Maryam, Hussain and Hassan (all children of the prime minister), the five-judge larger bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali gave an ultimatum to Sharif’s three children to respond to the notices served regarding the investigation.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed that by law, if an individual fails to submit a reply in any matter, it is to be considered that he or she is accepting the allegations. The court has asked counsel to submit the responses by Monday.
Angered by the delay in the case, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader Imran Khan said Sharif has lost moral authority to remain in office.
Talking to media outside Supreme Court after hearing of Panamagate case on Thursday, he said FBR and NAB have submitted forged documents in the court. He asked Nawaz Sharif that why his children Maryam Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz have not submitted reply in the apex court. Panama leaks case is seven months old even then time is being sought from the court, he added.
Imran said Nawaz Sharif claims that he was ready for accountability then why he is fleeing.
He also objected on appearance of Attorney General representing the Sharif family. “The attorney general is not a personal employee of Nawaz Sharif,” Imran added.
He expressed his pleasure over declaring all the petitions maintainable by the court in Panama Papers case.
“Government is using delaying tactics in SC. Despite being given two weeks plus to file reply, Sharif lawyer failed to file Sharif kids’ replies.”
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court asked Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to submit their Terms of Reference for the commission to be formed to probe the Panama Papers leaks.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Siraj Ul Haq has said Panama issue is not a political issue but it is issue of 200 million people.
“Panama leaks is not a political issue. This is matter of 200 million people and it is a serious issue. This serious issue should not be drowned in pandemonium and noise”, he said this while talking to media men outside Supreme Court (SC) here Thursday.
He held that government was using dilatory tactics. Such delaying tactics will be of no use for government, he added. Government has filed insufficient replies. Government will have to file reply, he underlined.
When the institutions don’t work then the matter goes to some where else, he added. Why the NAB and FBR are silent, he questioned.
He observed that country is handcuffed with loans, corruption and IMF. If off shore companies are fair then how the money went outside the country. Who will render its account.
He remarked 25 days are enough to probe into the issue. This matter is heading towards powerful commission. Judicial Commission be constituted under serving judge of SC to investigate this matter, he added.
