ISLAMABAD: Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, while heading three-member special implementation bench of the Supreme Court on Panama case, on Wednesday remarked that there is no proof that the prime minister owns any property by himself.
Another judge of the bench Justice Azmat Saeed remarked that no allegation related to corruption or misuse of authority was leveled in the joint investigation team (JIT) report.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed that the Sharif family did not produce any document to establish Hussain Nawaz was the original owner of London flats but the JIT, on the other hand, found out that Maryam Nawaz was the real owner of those apartments.
Advocate Khawaja Haris, counsel for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said that the children of his client were independent in their business, assets and properties and the prime minister had nothing to do with their assets and businesses.
Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan remarked that the court would take a decision after looking at all the evidences. Khawaja Haris said according to NAB laws, an individual cannot be held accountable for the properties and assets that are in the name of his wife and children.
Justice Ejaz Afzal questioned why the prime minister claimed on the floor of parliament that all relevant documents were available to show the source of funds used to obtain the offshore properties.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed remarked that the judges could not shut their eyes to the fact that no document was submitted by the Sharif family to substantiate the source of funds used to establish Hill Metal Establishment. “Though source of fund has not been provided by the prime minister, he received 86 per cent profit from the same business,” he observed.
Khawaja Haris said that his client can only be held accountable for the properties under his name, maintaining that the PM has no connection to the London flats.
Upon this Justice Ejaz Afzal asked are there any records available with Hassan and Hussain Nawaz that can prove that the prime minister does not have any connection with the London flats?
“Have you also brought a Qatari letter with you?” Justice Azmat Saeed asked Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s lawyer, Tariq Hasan, as he began his arguments before the bench.
Advocate Tariq Hassan said that the JIT had attempted to drag his client into the matter. Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that he can tell him about Ishaq Dar’s connection to this case. The name of the finance minister’s nephew is included in the transactions relating to the Gulf Steel Mills, the judge elaborated, adding that money from the Hill Metal Establishment was transferred to the minister’s son, Ali Dar.
Our reporter ads: Despite adjudication of Panama case entering into final phase, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday once again failed to substantiate the money trail of his family’s assets abroad. “No documents have been produced so far to establish ownership of UK flats. All we have been hearing is that the property is owned by Neilson and Nescoll while Minerva is the service providing company,” said Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, member of the implementation bench, questioning that who directed Minerva to administrate the other two companies. Advocate Khawaja Haris in his arguments – believed to be the last chance for premier’s defense in the top court – did not provide the details of ownership of any of the assets. He, however, focused on sections of National Accountability Ordinance 1999, defining the accused, associates, benamidars, SRO (Statutory Regulatory Order), which grants or enables concessions, and pecuniary advantages from the assets. Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed that the fundamental question was that when the property was acquired; who provided the money and where was the money trail. He further observed that different versions were given in this regard but the question was how funds were transferred to UK. Advocate Salman Akram Raja, counsel for PM’s children, will start his argument on Thursday (today).
Published in Daily Times, July 20th , 2017.
