SC’s single-member commission to probe into Panama Papers

ISLAMABAD: The five-member bench of the Supreme Court, hearing Panama Papers case, has decided that a single-member commission, comprising a sitting judge of the apex court will be constituted for investigation into the matter.

The five-member bench of SC was hearing Panama Papers case here Thursday.

The larger bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Hassan, is hearing the case.

The Chief Justice said the commission will have all the powers of the apex court.

Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that the court will not drag proceedings of the case. He made it clear that the court will not be bound to the terms of reference of the parties rather it will be for the bench to fix the terms of reference for the commission.

Earlier, the counsel of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif submitted reply in the Supreme Court, hearing Panama Papers case.

In the reply submitted in the apex court on behalf of the Premier, it is stated that the name of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not mentioned in the Panama Papers. The Premier does not own offshore companies and flats abroad, it added.

The court declared all identical petitions filed in Panama Papers case maintainable and also ordered all other petitioners and the prime minister's counsel to submit their ToRs by Monday.

The court adjourned the hearing till Monday morning and directed Hasan Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz to submit their replies by Monday.