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Tuesday March 19, 2024

 PanamaLeaks case: PTI submits ‘evidence’ against Sharif family

By Sohail Khan
November 15, 2016

PTI relies heavily on Asad Kharral’s book; AML chief also files 600-page evidence; Akram Sheikh to represent Hussain, Maryam replacing Salman Aslam Butt as counsel

ISLAMABAD: A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, will today (Tuesday) resume hearing of the petitions seeking a probe into the PanamaLeaks and disqualification of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday submitted evidence against the Sharif family, revealing their bank accounts and transfer of millions of rupees through ‘hundi’ and money laundering.

In pursuance of the court’s last order, the PTI filed 686 pages of documents as evidence but relied on the paper book of journalist Asad Kharral on the PanamaLeaks.

Kharral had also filed a petition against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the PanamaLeaks but the bench dismissed it on November 2.

On the last hearing, the court had directed the petitioners and respondents to file documents related to properties and off-shore companies revealed in the Panama Papers Leaks by November 15.

The court had ruled that the respondents, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz and his son-in-law and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, had to satisfy it as to when the properties and entities were acquired, how money was transferred from Pakistan and who paid and from which bank account it was spent.

The documents submitted to the court on Monday contain the details of bank accounts and billions of rupees loan write-offs. The evidence mentioned that from 1988 to 1991, the Sharif family transferred Rs56,896 million through ‘hundi’.

The court was informed that the Sharif family through money laundering shifted Rs145 million abroad while during the period paid Rs887 as income tax. It was submitted that the said money was not declared in the tax return.

Nawaz Sharif’s business partner Khalid Siraj had disclosed money laundering.According to documents, the Sharif family’s industries Nawaz Sharif as the Punjab chief minister.

Meanwhile, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed also filed 600-page evidence to the apex court by providing details of 11 companies owned by the children of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with details of transactions since 2001.

The court was informed that the Sharif family through money laundering shifted Rs145, 056 million abroad, while during the period paid Rs887 as income tax. It was submitted that the said money was not declared in the tax return.   

APP adds: Senior advocate Supreme Court Muhammad Akram Sheikh will represent Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz in the case as their counsel replacing Salman Aslam Butt. An application to change the counsel was submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday by their Advocate on Record Syed Rafaqat Hussain.