Summary Imran Khan and Sheikh Rasheed held a meeting in Islamabad.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Saturday announced that he would submit evidence in the Panama Papers case on November 15.
Khan announced the decision during meeting with Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed in Islamabad. Both discussed the country’s political situation and Panama leaks issue.
On the occasion, the PTI chief said that his party’s case is very strong over Panamagate scandal.
Sheikh Rasheed reiterated that Nawaz Sharif cannot hold his office as he has lost the moral authority.
POLITICAL WRANGLING
The PMLN-led government and opposition parties have been locked in dispute about the response to the Panama Papers since April.
The Supreme Court appointed a one-person commission to investigate the Panama Papers case and decided to set its own terms of reference for the probe, after political wrangling stalled the process in the country’s parliament.
The commission will be led by a sitting Supreme Court judge and will have the full powers of the court at its disposal to investigate the scandal that has dogged the Sharif family since April.
PM’S REPLY IN SC
On November 3, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif defended himself before the Supreme Court, claiming that he does not own any shell companies or property through offshore holdings. However, he did not address the offshore links of his children.
Submitting replies on their behalf on November 7, Counsel Salman Butt said Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz are not public office holders. The counsel said that Maryam Nawaz is not dependant of the prime minister.
Denying the allegations leveled in the petitions as contrary to facts and figures, Maryam Nawaz said she is not the beneficiary owner of Nielsen and Nescom companies but only the trustee.
Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz also rejected the allegations leveled in the petitions. They said they are not dependant of the prime minister and that they are non-resident Pakistanis and conducting business outside the country over the last many years.
The apex court directed all the parties to place on record all the documents on the next hearing on 15th of this month in support of their case as no other opportunity will be given in this regard.
The bench said that it will go through the documents before the constitution of the commission.
PML-N MEMBERS DEFEND PARTY LEADERSHIP
After the adjournment of case hearing on Monday, the PML-N leaders said that lawyers of PTI failed to submit even a single documentary evidence in the apex court.
Chairman Privatization Commission, Muhammad Zubair said PTI Chairman and his cronies waved documents in public meetings and TV channels and repeated allegations but now their lawyers have declined to present any evidence.
Daniyal Aziz in his remarks said the interviews of Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz were concocted to create ambiguity and to mislead the people.
He said International Consortium of International Journalists admitted that name of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was not included in Panama Papers.
Parliamentary Secretary for Information, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha said the petitions of PTI have no evidence. He said Prime Minister presented himself for accountability and allegations of PTI are just based on hollow claims.
