Panama case put off due to judge’s ailment

Hearing will be resumed next week if Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed’s health improves

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) will not be resuming hearing even the next week in the petitions, seeking a probe in PanamaLeaks and disqualification of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for allegedly lying on the floor of parliament.

The five-member bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa on Wednesday in a short proceeding adjourned the hearing until Monday due to ailment of Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, one of the members of the bench.

In a short proceeding, Justice Khosa said that one of their brothers had a chest pain on Tuesday and was rushed to the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC). “We are thankful to Allah and grateful to the staffof the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology that no surgical intervention was done and no requirement of stent felt but doctor insists that he should be kept under observation for three-four days,” Justice Khosa said.

The court then tentatively adjourned the hearing until Monday subject to the condition of Justice Sheikh Azamat Saeed. 

Meanwhile, according to the roster issued by the SC for the next week, commencing from February 6, the office has constituted only four benches for Islamabad Registry sans larger bench of Panama case. According to the roster, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, one of the members of the bench hearing Panama case, will be hearing cases at the Karachi Registry next week while one bench comprising Justice Manzoor Ahmed Malik and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood will be hearing cases at the Lahore Registry.