Five-judge bench to hear Sharif review petitions on Wednesday

E-Paper | October 31, 2026

Five-judge bench to hear Sharif review petitions on Wednesday

Haseeb Bhatti Published September 12, 2017

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday ordered the formation of a five-member larger bench to hear review petitions filed by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his children and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar against the Panama Papers case verdict.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal heard arguments today from Salman Akram Raja and Khawaja Haris ─ the lawyers representing the Sharif children Hassan, Hussain and Maryam, and Nawaz Sharif respectively ─ on the review petitions.

During the hearing, Haris raised questions over the formation of a three-judge bench to hear the review petitions, whereas the final judgement in the Panama Papers case had been signed by five judges.

Raja also pleaded for the formation of a five-judge bench to hear the review petition against the July 28 SC verdict.

The court, after deliberating the matter, accepted Raja's plea and referred the matter to CJP Nisar, who then approved the formation of a larger bench to hear the review petitions.

A five-judge bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, comprising justices Gulzar Ahmed, Ejaz Afzal, Azmat Saeed and Ijazul Ahsan will hear the review petitions on Wednesday.

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A patriotic national

Sep 12, 2017 11:36pm

Salam Sir - Alhamdo lillah. We are all accountable here and more so in hereafter. Justice cannot be dispensed without taking into account merit of the case, and the prevailing practices followed in similar cases. It is not possible to let someone break the constitution, and we let them go free and on the other hand pick up others disregarding whether the issue has a material impact on an overall basis or loss to exchquer or to nation!

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Javed Arshad

Sep 13, 2017 12:41am

Not sure what NS lawyers are trying to achieve. 3 or 5 the result may not be different or maybe they were hoping for a delay that did not happen

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ashraf yousafzai

Sep 13, 2017 12:47am

The review petetion can be heared before the five or three members bench. It is obivious that the five judges have intrepreted their last verdict in accordance to the constitution of pakistan and on the basis of the evidence presented before the bench. It would be pretty now difficult for the defence team bring new argumentation to prove their stance otherwise as they were given ample oppurtunity and fascilitated to provide proof of pm innocency which they failed.

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K Khan

Sep 13, 2017 12:48am

How does anyone explain the billions of dollars abroad that Nawaz Sharif family possesses when all their foreign companies always ran at a loss per their tax returns filed in UK !

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Sep 13, 2017 02:34am

Hopefully the five Supreme Court judges will deliver their judgements soon on the review petitions.

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JA-Australia

Sep 13, 2017 02:44am

Should have been a five judge bench all along. I am disappointed. Doesn't the Supreme Court know that appearances are just as important as substance, and the PML-N will pounce on every appearance of indecision or waffling on the part of the judges to cast doubt on any verdicts?

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My Advice

Sep 13, 2017 02:47am

Lets hope a verdict comes out on this issue and all accept it in good faith. Country is faced with many other important issues related to safety and prosperity of the country and millions of its citizens.

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Observer - Canada

Sep 13, 2017 03:10am

It is hoped this review by SC will be concluded in due course and without delay. Justice should not only be done but it should be made visible that it is done. People are interested that laundered money is brought back to Pakistan after liquidating assets bought outside Pakistan.

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A patriotic national

Sep 13, 2017 03:37am

Salam Sir - I am afraid if we go into details of what our Female MNAs have reported or missed out, they may all disqualify enmass. I am pretty sure they would not have reported "Mehar Receivable" in their declaration of assets. Similarly, many other receivables relating to amounts borrowed by others from them. Are we ready to face this reality, and disqualify all of them in one go!

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Suleman

Sep 13, 2017 04:35am

@A patriotic national So that means you can never catch anyone because they'll keep referring to "others who did this and that". This nonsense has to stop somewhere. This family has enjoyed Pakistan's governmental perks for decades yet has chosen to loot and invest all their money in other countries. And they have provided no trail or justification for their assets so far. And then they display false piety to get away with things.

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Bashir Ahmad

Sep 13, 2017 04:38am

The Honourable Justice Khosa ,due to his 'Godfather' remarks about Sharifs,should remove himself from the review bench.This will serve the cause of justice and fairness and improve the image and prestige of the SC. A learned judge should not regard,by implication,anyone guilty before the full hearing of the case,because of his/her wealth.

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Sep 13, 2017 05:49am

The CJ should have constituted a full court bench. The same five justices are unlikely to rule against themselves.

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Maqsee

Sep 13, 2017 06:07am

Small bench?or a larger one, please dispense justice to the country and its nation! Period!

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Azmeen

Sep 13, 2017 07:55am

Regardless the bench composition, there is high possibility that review petition of Sharifs will be rejected.

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