E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Supreme Court says Panama Papers JIT will not get extra time 'under any circumstance'

Haseeb Bhatti Published
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The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the prime minister's family's business dealings abroad submitted an initial report before the Supreme Court Monday.

After reviewing the report, the contents of which were not made public, the three-member special bench of the apex court, formed to monitor the JIT's proceedings, ordered Wajid Zia, head of the JIT, to take the stand.

Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, the head of the bench, warned Zia that the tasks assigned to the JIT should be completed within the 60-day time-frame provided to the team.

"We will not allow extra time under any circumstances," Justice Shiekh Azmat, a member of the bench, added. He directed the FIA director to report any problems faced by the members of the JIT to the court.

Justice Azmat also told Zia that the court "does not disagree with the report."

Advocate Faisal Chaudhry, representing the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf, asked the court to make the JIT's report public. However, the bench said that the report will only be made public at a "suitable time".

The next hearing will be in two weeks, in line with the Supreme Court's order on the Panama Papers case.

Pakistan
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Don'T HONK, THE NATION SLEEPS
May 22, 2017 03:21pm
Good. The uncertainty should end soon, this way or that way.
Recommend 0
Harmony-1©
May 22, 2017 03:27pm
The usual tactics of delay will be the tried and tested ploy of this government like all other inquiries but good to see that the court is on top here.
Recommend 0
M.Saeed
May 22, 2017 03:29pm
This is a good methodical approach.
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Khan
May 22, 2017 03:32pm
Glad to hear from SC.
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Asfhaq
May 22, 2017 03:34pm
Yes but does it mean if agencies can't validate the documents within 60 days (and some require foreign agencies to authenticate) then all that evidence will be inadmissible leaving only one option to absolve nawaz sharif?
Recommend 0
shazia bangash
May 22, 2017 03:35pm
Does the PM get 60 days to show the money trail to the JIT, or does the JIT have 60 days to prove the flats were purchased with the proceeds of laundered money? No journalist or lawyer is providing clarity on this critical question.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
May 22, 2017 03:37pm
Let's wait and see if the so-called JIT can complete its so-called report within the stipulated time of sixty days? Only time will tell.
Recommend 0
bossman
May 22, 2017 03:37pm
Nothing will come out of JIT. Lets forget but not forgive and move on.
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Iftikhar Husain
May 22, 2017 03:41pm
It is right to keep the time frame of the investigation.
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ibrahim
May 22, 2017 03:42pm
it is so heartining to see that since the 'accused' here is the PM, all institutions are either shying away or trying to be too cautious in handing out the verdict or tell the truth. In the same country a common man will easily die at a government hospital either due to doctor's negligence or non existence of proper/basic equipment. The same country where when a wife files a complaint against her abusive husband, the police shuns it away by saying that these things happen. The same country where the police fail to register an FIR when a son of an influential person drives over a mere motor cyclist, no FIR is registered.
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imdadali
May 22, 2017 03:48pm
JIT is unable to conduct fair probe of the panama as FIA director performs might be unsatisfactory which compelled honorable judges for saying that extra time will not be given in any circumstances. nominating wajid zia as head is understandable as whether he has past experience of dealing such type of cases if not then why he has been made head of the team which is probing. there is no expectation of goodness from the jit.
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RAHMAN
May 22, 2017 03:58pm
Let us pray so that Pakistan get rid corruption----
Recommend 0
ABC
May 22, 2017 04:11pm
our pm will come out clean i have full faith on nawaz and sc.
Recommend 0
(3H)
May 22, 2017 04:12pm
If JIT not been given extension of time to complete its investigations, the critics will say justice not done. SC may have a much better interim approach for respondents,if they apply for extension or if JIT requests for extension, the court may ask PM to step down temporarily,cooperate with JIT until final verdict evolved.
Recommend 0
A.M. Khawar
May 22, 2017 04:18pm
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf’s request, to make Joint Investigation Team (JIT) first report, of the work in progress, makes no sense. The partial report could only lead to partial conclusions with high probability of being different and, therefore, wrong when the final report becomes available. Suprem Court Bench must be commended for its decision to release the JIT report at a “suitable time.”
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Krana
May 22, 2017 04:22pm
What if JIT does not find any conclusive document?
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citizen26
May 22, 2017 04:25pm
lets find out soon
Recommend 0
pervaiz
May 22, 2017 04:27pm
Today IK once again returned empty hand without any resign from Mian Sb. Mr. IK wait for 2018 and do some thing in kpk.
Recommend 0
Ayub
May 22, 2017 04:32pm
The Brazilian people have demanded their president to step down following the Supreme Court order for an investigation against the president for using hush money in a case. Why should the Pakistani PM not resign to allow an unobstructed investigation against him in the alleged money laundering case?
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terba
May 22, 2017 04:36pm
@ASFHAQABOUT I cannot help but agree with you.
Recommend 0
BAXAR
May 22, 2017 04:39pm
@shazia bangash "does the JIT have 60 days to prove the flats were purchased with the proceeds of laundered money?" That was not the question asked by the court to the JIT. The JIT did not make such claim.
Recommend 0
Muhammad Azim Wahid
May 22, 2017 05:02pm
Since the onus or the burden of proof is on respondents and the respondents fail to prove the money trails to JIT, the court will have an easy choice to dispense justice ultimately.
Recommend 0
Amir Ayub
May 22, 2017 05:10pm
Imran Khan must be disappointed over the JIT's report whenever it will be completed. Imran has no future in politics. Imran is a total failed politician. He has no clear mind, vision and just hoping for miracles in shape of panama leak and such pity issues which has no legal standing.
Recommend 0
MOHAMMED
May 22, 2017 05:26pm
@Amir Ayub I salute you sir for your incredible insight-Yes IK is the most corrupt person in PK, NS and his family and AZ are honest and only buy properties worth billions in the UK and Dubai for safe keeping for the PK nation. I wish we had more Sharifs and Zardaris willing to invest abroad for the betterment of the nation.
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Parvez
May 22, 2017 05:33pm
Well said ...... its high time this matter ends and justice is done.
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Shahid
May 22, 2017 06:00pm
This JIT has been assigned a specific task: in a maximum of 60 days find out answers to the questions the 3 esteemed SC judges had raised for further probing since in the initial proceedings of the SC the PM and named members of his family had not truthfully told the required necessary details. What remains to be seen is how far this JIT, which is under direct supervision of the 3 SC judges and reports directly to them, succeeds in the stipulated 60 days eriod. Indeed it is a big test for all on all sides of the central issue of corruption, rule of law, sense of responsibility, trustworthiness, truthfulness and justice. Let us hope for the best in the larger future interests of this country and its citizens since there is no other avenue beyond this forum; except of coarse the divine intervention which operates in its own mysterious ways.
Recommend 0
Sab se pehle pakistan
May 22, 2017 06:23pm
The entire nation is looking towards honourable Supreme Court. It is now Corruption Vs Survival of Pakistan.
Recommend 0
Ghous
May 22, 2017 06:24pm
Can the JIT be able to conclude the forensic investigation from all aspects is the biggest question. Justice Hurried is Justice Buried.
Recommend 0
BAXAR
May 22, 2017 07:10pm
@Ghous "Can the JIT be able to conclude the forensic investigation from all aspects is the biggest question. " It will be simpler if the accused provides his details as he said he already have it. No justice will be hurried nor buried.
Recommend 0
Shahid
May 22, 2017 07:35pm
@Ghous Where did you see hurry? Are you forgetting the first phase of this case where of the original 5 SC justices, 2 have already handed down their full verdict. This additional 60 days period is to find answers to the specific questions raised by the same 3 SC justices. Extending the proceedings for specific focused probe cannot be termed 'hurried'.
Recommend 0
Rustam Mir
May 22, 2017 08:34pm
@Amir Ayub Seeing as how the Panama leaks probe is being conducted in different parts of the world and is yielding results, the case definitely has substance and people who say otherwise lack insight. I respectfully ask you to tell this nation what solution do you have in this regard. Clearly, something is wrong with the country. Instead of criticizing someone who is doing something, one should join the fight against corruption in a way one seems fit.
Recommend 0
Sailor
May 22, 2017 10:40pm
@Sab se pehle pakistan absolutely the best comment so far
Recommend 0
Dare
May 23, 2017 02:32am
Bais of the JIT is obvious, that it has yet to interview any of the Sharif family members or their friends like Dar!
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khansaheb
May 23, 2017 04:25am
But my dear honorable SC judges why it took you so long to put the ball in JIT court. Were you not competent to take a decision yourself
Recommend 0
Ostrich Head In Hole.
May 23, 2017 05:22am
Thank you Sirs (Honorable Judges of the SC). The administration needs to be impressed with importance of the case and the authority of the Court! The case needs to be brought to its logical conclusion within the framework of the existing laws, rules and regulation without loss of time!
Recommend 0

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