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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday welcomed judicial proceedings in the Panama Papers case as the Supreme Court (SC) issued notices to Nawaz and others.
Earlier in the day, the SC had taken up five petitions, involving the premier and several others. The three-member bench issued notices to the prime minister, his family members and others made party in the constitutional petition.
"I welcome the judicial proceedings in connection with Panama Papers," he said.
In a statement issued after consultation with his legal team, he said, "The court of public opinion has been making decisions, it would be better to wait for the judiciary's decision."
The premier held the opposition responsible for the prolonged delay into investigation of the matter by a judicial commission.
He said that he had not only made his stance on the matter clear in the National Assembly and before the people, but had also announced a commission to probe Panamagate.
The petitions maintain that the premier and his dependants were involved in establishing offshore firms as exposed by the Panama Papers, and that the premier concealed assets of his dependants and also concealed the truth from the National Assembly. It also adds that he is no longer eligible to hold office under Article 62 and 63 of the constitution.
Pakistan People Party leader Khurshid Shah on Wednesday had accused the prime minister of accentuating the crisis by refusing to probe the Panama Papers leaks scandal.
Despite commencement of judicial proceedings in connection with the Panama Papers leaks, PTI chief Imran Khan refused to withdraw his protest call for November 2nd and said that the capital would be locked down as per schedule.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Jamaat-i-Islami, Barrister Zafarullah Khan of Watan Party, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Advocate Asad had filed petitions seeking the disqualification of the PM and his family members..
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Comments (79) Closed
Oct 20, 2016 03:17pm
Each and everyone involved in Panamagate reports should come under scanner, not just PM or ruling party persons.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:15pm
Good step by NS. After all if you have nothing to hide then why run from investigation. I am waiting for other parties members like PTI and PPP who's name come in Panama papers. I mean Jahangir tareen and itself Imran Khan both are among the founders of the off shore companies in Pakistan.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:17pm
Beginning of the end of Sharif govt - or - am i too naive....
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Oct 20, 2016 03:24pm
What else can he say.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:24pm
He has everything to hide 100% guilty. how did his children buy palaces worth millions in London?
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Oct 20, 2016 03:25pm
little room left for Imran Khan to lockdown Islamabad but i am afraid rational decisions and PTI are poles apart
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Oct 20, 2016 03:30pm
"The premier held the opposition responsible for the prolonged delay into investigation of the matter by a judicial commission" WHAT A JOKE. Why he didnt come up with the papers and proof before. Is he a PM Or what. Why he wasted so much Nations time?? Why he couldnt give proof of his innocence in material and not in talking.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:30pm
PM Nawaz believed that as PM he was above the law.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:28pm
Sorry but it is too late now. Pakistan will be freed from corruption kings on November 2nd 2016. Dharna is not for PTI. It is for the survival of Pakistan. The country is on verge of bankruptcy and sinking in debts. Corruption has become a threat to our national security now. For all of us the goal should be "Sab Se Pehle Pakistan" and the nation will achieve this goal.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:32pm
Well Done PM, We are proud of you, carry on we are with you..........
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Oct 20, 2016 03:31pm
Through which channel was money transferred to buy palaces worth millions of pounds? Was tax paid on money sent abroad? Proof? How many millions of dollars in offshore accounts?
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Oct 20, 2016 03:38pm
He controls the outcome hence the welcome!!
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Oct 20, 2016 03:38pm
It's a wild goose chase till its PML-N or PPP govt.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:43pm
I just dont understand why people are lashing out at PTI. It's a fact that there is corruption in pak may be including in PTI. no one since 1947 practically did anything against corruption except for PTI. People are more busy arguing the methods PTI employing and giving clean chit to the party involved in corruption.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:48pm
It's good to see PM NS welcomes judicial proceedings. It could have been more good if PM NS as a moral action, step down from the slot untill court decision, and appoint Acting PM within PML(N) to run the affairs of country.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:53pm
"The premier held the opposition responsible for the prolonged delay into investigation of the matter by a judicial commission."
Now, this is fresh! Point fingers at others, for your own foot-dragging!
Some people will never learn.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:54pm
True leaders lead by example. They do NOT drag their feet and are never dragged along by anyone. This welcome is too late and it sounds hollow if not artificial. As for court of public opinion, that is an illusion b/c no public office is allowed to function impartially.
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Oct 20, 2016 03:57pm
Accuser has to prove the accusation by producing untainted evidence. That's why PM is confident. However, Imran Khan knows that very well but wants to drag the issue till 2018 elections for political gain. If the country has to suffer more misery, so what?
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Oct 20, 2016 03:58pm
@iffi
Get real! Part of the reason PM has finally commented on this after months of quiet is because of the pressure put by the other parties!
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Oct 20, 2016 04:01pm
To end our nightmares, just follow in footsteps of Iceland PM and resign.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:02pm
@iffi IK should continue with peaceful protest for timely completion of Panama probe. Lolipops by govt. won't stop IK from seeking accountability through peaceful protests. NS is actually nervous and not happy by inquiry.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:02pm
On thing that NS knows is that all the institutions that will actually be asked by the SC are all under his command.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:06pm
Pressure from PTI Resulted in getting heard.
People of Pakistan don't realise that its not IK's war its their rights their money.
PMLN Government is incapable of running the country but its the punishment for our illiterate(mostly) public. However some can read and write english but don't realise how much Tax we are paying for the so called Elite Class. Their support could be bought with a few roads and a few projects funded by a fraction of their tax money.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:06pm
Ah, yes! Let's lay all the blame on IK (the only opposition actively seeking a probe) for all the delays!
What's next? Blame IK for fabricating Panama Papers too??
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Oct 20, 2016 04:07pm
@Athar Sherwani You are wrong. Nawaz Sharif has to proof his innocence. All proofs are there in Panama Leaks. Onus on Nawaz Sharif to prove that he and his family are clean from corruption.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:08pm
Nawaz Sharif is happy. Finally the issue has come to the right forum. No amount of proofs and justifications in Parliament and media would have pacified the Janoonis. Strategy is simple. Let them shame themselves publically and then nail them in the court. This is 35 punctures revisiting.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:09pm
@KT Yes ! sure, why not PML N do same ? go to court also as others have done, who is stopping them, Imran khan has said before, to include him too, but investigation should start from the top, is this not fair ?
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Oct 20, 2016 04:18pm
NS govt could not escape punishment and humiliation.Its time institutions showed full activism; people hv no longer any hopes from them; its time for them to give this message to Pakistanis that they are not alone and that instutions will make wrongdoers accountable. There is chaos all around; let the instutions get and earn their independence and play their decisive role in provision of justice
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Oct 20, 2016 04:16pm
Who knows? Who's time going to end? But the ultimately decision would be made in Court and Parliament.
This is fact, opposition is also equally responsible to prolong this matter!
The body language and statements of PM, seems he is confident that the opposition or any other institution will not be able to proof or track the trail of money because money routed from number of internal channels and country and unless we have relevant laws and agreement with these countries to exchange of information, nothing can happen.
Now the question should ask to IK-PTI the moral ground or rational to lock down the capital. I believe within the reasonable time court started the proceeding after approaching to them.
Now pressure going to built on PTI...
Someone should ask to PTI, in case if panama leak didn't exist than everything was going normal? there was no any issue for opposition?
PTI going to enter in their worst political phase...I am afraid and looking their future as another PMLQ...
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Oct 20, 2016 04:17pm
What else can he say
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Oct 20, 2016 04:17pm
@ART KP Yes ! although Iceland PM wife was shown to hold off shore accounts, similar to what NS is claiming that those belong to his sons & daughter.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:26pm
When the matter is already sub-judice then what's the need for locking down ISB?
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Oct 20, 2016 04:36pm
It is not in the interest of the country to prolong this matter.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:36pm
Welcome with heavy heart.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:45pm
According to Pakistani law, the burden of proof is always on the accuser and not the accused. IK won't be able to prove NS guilty in any court of law, no matter what the TORs. Any investigation will take several years.
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Oct 20, 2016 04:51pm
@Umar Farooq I pray God gives you sense to differentiate
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Oct 20, 2016 05:01pm
My countrymen/women please be ware of these cunning and delaying tactics. Our country is sinking in the huge pool of debt. These people will fly in crisis but it is us to stay and face the results of their misdeeds.
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Oct 20, 2016 05:02pm
There's is a difference in having offshore companies and declaring it in your tax returns vs having no mention of it anywhere in the tax return.
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Oct 20, 2016 05:17pm
Main sahib is so far removed from reality. He could have answered panama queries months ago. It's evident who had been dragging the issue.
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Oct 20, 2016 05:19pm
He welcomed really?, Then why did he mentioned on his latest speech during his party selection
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Oct 20, 2016 05:53pm
He always offers himself for accountability but then convenientally runs away from ti by using the delay tactics. Ik should continue his efforts as only a consistent pressure can yield results in Pakistan. The nexus of corrupts is deep rooted and will take some efforts to eridicate.
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Oct 20, 2016 06:14pm
not really!
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Oct 20, 2016 06:17pm
Really, once forced into it you have to make a supporting statement.
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Oct 20, 2016 06:22pm
@Ali Bokhary
following quesions were never answered
1) when were mayfair flats bought? (Mrs nawaz said early 90s, hussain said 2006, hassan pleaded ignorance, and maryam denied they own any flats - all these statements are on record in various newspaper and TV interviews).
2) what was source of funds?
3) how was money trasnferred?
Simple things that could have been answered in one afternoon with documentation.
If nawaz is so welcoming of supreme court, why didn't he just give these answers and cut PTI's knees off on this issue, and save everyone's time?
If he is so welcoming, why didn't he agree to Tors?
If he is so welcoming, why were his minnions for months denying and delaying the investigation.
Cmon, this is just a feeble face saving statement
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Oct 20, 2016 06:23pm
@Fast
And if you have nothing to hide, why not just answer a few simple questions and show the documentation, rather then waiting six months for the matter to end up in supreme court?
I agree everyone in panama case should be investigated. IK's name is not in panama leaks, but he said in parliment investigate me as well.
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Oct 20, 2016 06:24pm
Good step. We have to route out corruption especially from the top brass of the ruling party.
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Oct 20, 2016 07:12pm
@KT .... We don't pay income tax on stock investments until we cash the shares and take the cash. Capitalism is the avoidance of taxation in order to preserve assets. I have no idea how the tax system in Pakistan works, but the rich don't pay income tax on money that has not been earned yet.
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Oct 20, 2016 07:24pm
There should be moral courage to present himself in front of public for misdeeds. Examples of great and civilized leaders are in front of the world such as David Cameron,The British PM and Iceland PM.
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Oct 20, 2016 07:27pm
"Mr Speaker - these are the resources which were used to buy these flats in 2005". NS on the floor of the house this year. That is a blatant lie. The only fact that needs to be proved is that these flats were bought 15 years earlier, and thereby NS disqualified himself from holding the highest office in the country. Hudaiba paper mills case in a London court in 1998 will prove that.
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Oct 20, 2016 07:34pm
@Alba
True, but the question here is not about profits from sales or assets or shared, but source of funds for buying those assets in the first place.
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Oct 20, 2016 07:37pm
@Talha ... Obviously he has kept his money outside of Pakistan so it would not be taxed, and the family did no declare their real estate assets abroad, past and present. There is no reason for conspiracy theories. Just read your tax codes in English or Urdu. It's all there in black and white. If people would rather read about cricket matches instead that is another matter.
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Oct 20, 2016 07:44pm
Politics is a big business ! why are we complaining The politicians are no missionaries though they profess like that.
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Oct 20, 2016 07:45pm
@Abdul Wali .... .... The people have already gotten the message. Half of the middle class have government jobs or government supported jobs so they remain mute. They are not going to poison their own well.
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Oct 20, 2016 07:50pm
@Salman - you are spot on with your comments.
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Oct 20, 2016 07:54pm
Nawaz and PML-N have been busy throwing smoke screens to hide their corruption and doing their best to avoid accountability. Now the Supreme court has taken over and I hope Nawaz and PML-N will not interfere with the process.
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Oct 20, 2016 08:04pm
Another way to hide corruption under influenced goverment department,
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Oct 20, 2016 08:11pm
why hearing is adjourned for 2 weeks. It should have been heard on daily basis so that Imran Khan had no point to lock down Islamabad.
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Oct 20, 2016 08:14pm
Nothing will happen, another delaying tactic,
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Oct 20, 2016 08:12pm
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday welcomed judicial proceedings ... this proceedings should be done immediately to bring country back to track.
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Oct 20, 2016 08:24pm
This is good news for Democracy that PM has put forward to accountability in Panama Papers case. The case is open and shut due to the evidence. But will be interesting to see justice meted by the courts
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Oct 20, 2016 08:43pm
@Tipu
He didn't have a choice, he has been caught red handed.
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Oct 20, 2016 08:55pm
I strongly believe that a THIRD PARTY should investigate the Panama papers leak.
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Oct 20, 2016 09:20pm
@Tipu : Why NS resisted at the first place. Something to hide?
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Oct 20, 2016 09:21pm
The heat is on.
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Oct 20, 2016 09:30pm
Mr nawaz lost his credibilty.
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Oct 20, 2016 10:19pm
I will accept the decisions of any international investigative source investigating the current Panama situation, but I will not ever find it credible the decisions taken by any court in the Panama papers verdict, why? Simply because it will be a biased decision, the courts, the ECL and all the other agencies and departments react according to the present and previous government. They are all under pressure to do their jobs, our politicians and elite have way too much power in Pakistan, you do not dare get in their way, you dare not question their intent or their behavior.
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Oct 20, 2016 10:56pm
@ART KP Why is PTI so anxious to get rid of NS? They will not come into power either ways.
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Oct 20, 2016 10:58pm
@Talha The accused being guilty is a medieval notion. It is rather surprising that the enlightened PTI folks subscribe to this notion for others. When fingers are pointed tonwards Imran he simply says "prosecute me" well knowing that Law assumes otherwise. What hypocrisy.
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Oct 20, 2016 11:05pm
@iffi
I wouldn't be surprised if the lock down is called off and a stay order is granted by the court...the timing of the adjournment and ECP's calls are 'fortunately' helpful for the government as is this decision by the court as it undermines PTI's stance.
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Oct 20, 2016 11:10pm
@Athar Sherwani
Really?
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Oct 20, 2016 11:19pm
@Alba
Income tax is due on income i.e. dividends...capital gains tax on profit from sale of shares.
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Oct 20, 2016 11:22pm
@Alba
Yes but he claimed that no money has ever been sent abroad...Square that circle.
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Oct 20, 2016 11:28pm
Lets wait and see what SC does. It will be interesting to see if SC expands the scope of investigation and include all others in panama leak otherwise it will be just sharifs specific. I have full trust in SC.
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Oct 20, 2016 11:38pm
Imran Khan will not satisfied with Supreme Court action as he has different agenda. He is playing in the hands of others and want to destroy country emerging economy. People should understand there is a limit of protest. Is there any country in the world whose party leader want to shut down Capital of the country. May Allaha bless him with wisdom. Long live Pakistan. Ameen
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Oct 21, 2016 03:58am
I think it's end of Nawaz Sharif, he is guilty his children have admitted money came from Pakistan. Mariyam admitted on the the TV.
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Oct 21, 2016 04:13am
@Junaid you are right
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Oct 21, 2016 04:20am
Under court orders and PTI pressure now Nawaz Shareef is well coming Panama leak investigation. This is really shameful that our PM been dishonest with the people of Pakistan.
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Oct 21, 2016 04:47am
What is there to be proud of?? This should have been done Long ago!! Now Nawaz Sharif had no choice!!
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Oct 21, 2016 06:11am
PM Sharif could have put to rest Panama leaks long ago if he had honestly agreed to set up a judicial commission . He has been relying on delay tactics hoping that issue will blow away. Now decision by SC has put him in the bind.
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