ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its judgment in Panama implementation case after hearing arguments of all parties on Joint Investigation Team report submitted last week.
The date to issue the judgment will be announced later.
Earlier, the apex court on Friday reviewed Volume X of final report submitted by the Joint Investigation Team, which was earlier kept secret on JIT’s request.
Read more: BVI AG’s Chambers letter further indicts JIT
Soon after the three-member special implementation bench resumed hearing of the Panama Papers case, the court summoned the JIT report’s volume 10 in the courtroom and opened it for reviewing the documents.
The court also gave the Volume X to Khawaja Haris, the counsel of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asked him to examine specific sections of the said volume.
It was fifth consecutive hearing after the JIT report was submitted on July 10.
The bench observed that it will operate strictly within the remits of the law and not trample anyone's individual rights.
Read more: Different principles and 10 basic questions
Salman Akram Raja, the counsel of PM Nawaz Sharif children, said they could not even think of submitting false documents to the court, adding that it was a clerical mistake from his predecessor Akram Shaikh office which led to a confusion of dates regarding ownership of offshore companies by the premier's children.
He informed the bench that there were several law firms in London that operate on Saturdays, to which the bench agreed.
PM’s Disqualification
Justice Ijaz ul Ahsen observed that the bench is already considering the disqualification issue of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. On arguments of the counsel, Justice Azmat remarked that ‘we guarantee you that we will review this matter’.
The bench was also of the view that public office holder is accountable due to his position.
Earlier, in his remarks, Justice Azmat Saeed Shaikh remarked, “Everything will be made public and the Volume 10 will be opened.”
FIA Additional Director Wajid Zia who led the JIT to compile the report, on July 10 while submitting it to the court, had pleaded before it not to make Volume 10 public, saying it will be used for further investigation.
Read more:SECP chief Zafar Hijazi arrested in record tampering case
Hudaibiya Paper Mills case to reopen
The counsel of NAB told the bench that the bureau has now decided to reopen the Hudaibiya Paper Mills reference.
He informed the court that the anti-corruption body would file an appeal before the SC soon, challenging the decision of the Lahore High Court to close the case.
Justice Ejaz Afzal observed that even if we accept that there's no case against Ishaq Dar in Hudaibiya case, there's enough material in the JIT to charge him.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is the key person in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills reference and he, after agreeing to sign a confessional statement against the Sharifs, was pardoned in 2000.
Consultative meetings
All the major parties convened meetings of top party leadership to mull strategy after the court concluded hearing and reserved the judgement.
Read more: This is not ‘Ehtesab’ but ‘Istehsal’, claims Nawaz
Same bench to announce verdict
While talking to the media after the hearing was concluded, Salman Raja said the same bench would announce the verdict. Many legal experts were of the view that there are several options before the bench including referring the matter to Chief Justice for formulation of another bench.
Read more: Lawyers differ on disqualification of PM
'SC must disqualify PM'
After the defence counsels concluding their arguments, petitioners responded to them by saying that the SC must decide the case itself. Sheikh Rashid said ‘the rulers can influence the case in a trial court so the SC either disqualify PM or set him free’.
PTI’s lawyer Naeem Bukhari said that the PM had not disclosed his employment in an offshore company Capital FZE. On this Justice Ejaz asked, is there a restriction on public office holders to work?
The counsel said ‘engaging in other work leads to a conflict of interest’.