ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday formed a joint investigations team to probe the money trail as the NAB has failed to perform its duty. The verdict directed that the JIT be formed within seven days and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons should appear before it.
Read More: What are Panama Papers?
On 04th April, 2016, a treasure trove of leaked documents blown the lid off the faces behind offshore companies operating in multi-layered secrecy, revealing names throughout the world, including those of Pakistani politicians, businessmen, bankers as well as a serving high court judge and a retired judge.
Read more: Pakistani politicians, businessmen own companies abroad
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family came under fire at home with opposition parties accusing them of widespread corruption, after the names of PM’s children cropped up in the leaked documents from the Panamanian law firm.
Read more: Different likely dimensions of SC verdict
The prime minister offered to constitute a judicial commission to probe the matter and offered himself for investigations but the ruling PML-N and the opposition parties could not reach a consensus on the terms of references and the matter ultimately landed in the Supreme Court where after lengthy proceedings the judgement was reserved on 22nd February by a five-member judge bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.
Read more: Panama Papers case: The timeline
The country is on tenterhooks since the announcement that the verdict will be announced on 20th April. All the major parties including the PML-N summoned their meetings on Wednesday to tone up their political strategies ahead of the Panama case verdict.
04:18
Both the main opposition parties Pakistan Peoples' Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down because the verdict has clearly questioned the credibility of documents presented before the bench.
Praise & glory be to Allah alone. Shukrana & mubariks pic.twitter.com/yM92bIJJoc
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 20, 2017
02:32
After the verdict Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Nawaz Sharif will remain the prime minister till 2018.
02:15
A split verdict of the Supreme Court announced to form an investigation to probe the money trail by a team comprising members from MI, ISI, NAB, and SECP.
01:45
Just 15 mins before the verdict announcement Imran Khan, who is one of the petitioners, has reached the court.
01:04
Jamaat Islami (JI) chief Siraj ul-Haq says his party is against corruption and we believe that the decision should make Pakistan corruption free.
01:00
12:55
PTI's Arif Alvi: The judges are bound to give verdict as per law but in Pakistan many big thieves have got scot free.
12:40
Talking to Hamid Mir outside the Supreme Court, PML-N leader Miftah Ismail said there's no danger of prime minister being disqualified and we are hopeful that Nawaz Sharif will come clean.
12:39
Less than two hours in Panama Case verdict, PTI Chairman Imran Khan works out in Bani Gala
12:35
Senior analyst Talat Hussain: Don't see any sign of panic in PML-N camp.
12:27
Sources: Nothing unusual at the Prime Minister House, PM Nawaz busy in normal office routine
Panama case: Our journey for Insaf pic.twitter.com/mZI7HgKq8k
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 20, 2017
Read more: What senior journalists predict about the verdict
"Hum daikhain gai, laazim hai Kai hum bhee daikhain gai."We will see if the judiciary is free only for the PPP or for others as well.
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) April 20, 2017
Whatever the verdict, am amazed & humbled to see the overwhelming support for Nawaz Sharif. For a leader, that's the most prized possession.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 20, 2017
11:00
Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif: Nawaz Sharif is the prime minister today and will remain tomorrow as well.
That is so true & looking back, am thankful for that. As I said, strongest steel is forged in hottest fires ☺️ https://t.co/pY5zWnyp1t
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 20, 2017
10:30
Shehryar Afridi of PTI told Geo News that the party has been successful in making the masses aware that the ruling elite is not clean and it was PTI which has kept the case alive.
09:30
The 184-seat Court Room No 1 will be completely packed with the representatives of major parties and media persons. Usually, the chief judge of the bench reads out the operative part of the judgement.
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09:00
The security is tightened around the Supreme Court building where policemen wearing riot gears were deployed. Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan have stopped party workers from going to the court.
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