Panamagate hearing: PTI's Naeem Bukhari alleges Shahbaz forged signatures on documents

Published
13

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) lead counsel in the Panamagate case Naeem Bukhari on Wednesday before the Supreme Court (SC) alleged Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had forged his cousin Tariq Shafi's signatures on documents.

Addressing a five-judge bench, Bukhari said, "I dont want to say that Shahbaz Sharif forged Tariq Shafi's signature but there is a difference in the signatures on the affidavit and the contract."

It is unclear what documents the counsel was referring to as he presented his arguments before the bench as the Panamagate hearing resumed today after a break of nearly two weeks.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed, "There is no uniformity in the signatures."

Justice Khosa, observing that according to an affidavit Tariq Shafi had signed on an agreement in Dubai, asked, "so who was Shahbaz Sharif representing over there?"

During the hearing, the judges also discussed the evidence presented by Bukhari gathered from news sources.

The court observed, "If we make a judgement on the basis of news sources, then the PTI should also be worried."

The case has been adjourned till December 6.

The last hearing was held on Nov 17 after which the PTI’s lead counsel Hamid Khan bowed himself out of the case.

Later, the party chief announced that the PTI legal team would now be led by Naeem Bokhari and Dr Babar Awan.

Senior advocate Salman Aslam Butt will defend Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while Akram Sheikh will represent the prime minister’s children Maryam, Hussain and Hassan.

Although the PTI is expected to submit more evidence or documents before the commencement of the Panamagate case, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Tuesday furnished a two-page document in the case.

Read more: Imran tells SC about London flat purchase

At the last hearing of the case, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed had hinted at the presence of suspicious activity report after which Sheikh Rashid had gone to the UK along with Imran Khan.

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