Dear reader, online ads enable us to deliver the journalism you value. Please support us by taking a moment to
ISLAMABAD: The remarks of Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court regarding the judgement in the Panama Papers case echoed in an accountability court on Wednesday as ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif termed them “not an ordinary” development.
“The persons within the judiciary and from outside are commenting on the verdict,” said Mr Sharif, supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), after attending the trial proceedings in a reference filed against him and his children on the orders of the Supreme Court.
While deciding identical petitions filed by political rivals of Mr Sharif, the apex court disqualified him from holding office of the prime minister and directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file three references against him, his daughter Maryam, sons Hussain and Hassan and son-in-law retired Captain Mohammad Safdar.
Ousted PM links rupee fall against dollar to ‘chaos’ caused by Panama case judgement
Hearing a petition of a local PML-N activist seeking disqualification of MNA Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Justice Isa passed the remarks on Tuesday that the Panama Papers case involved four Avenfield flats in London of the Sharif family, but Mr Sharif was disqualified for holding an Iqama (work permit) of the United Arab Emirates.
Outside the accountability court, Mr Sharif said that legal experts like S.M. Zafar and even the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had termed the Panamagate decision a weak judgement.
He also asked why Justice Dost Mohammad did not attend the full-court reference.
“Before passing such an order like in the Panama Papers case, the judges should at least think whether this would be acceptable to the masses,” he said.
“The apex court’s bench consulted the Black Law Dictionary to justify the verdict against me,” he said.
“I have respect for every institution and in order to restore the deposed judges I resorted to a long march in 2009,” he recalled.
“Neither I nor the people of Pakistan accepted the decision that removed me from the PM house for not receiving salary from my son,” claimed Mr Sharif.
On the other hand, the court cleared Imran Khan despite his confessions to own an offshore company, Mr Sharif said, adding that the apex court disqualified PTI’s leader Jahangir Khan Tareen, but unlike what it had done in our case, neither the matter was referred to NAB nor the SC appointed a monitoring judge to ensure timely conclusion of the case.
Likewise, Sheikh Rashid had concealed properties worth billions of rupees and the court was passing the remarks that it also had to consider Mr Ahmed’s intention, said Sharif.
He claimed that unlike references related to Rental Power Projects, Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution, National Insurance Corporation Limited, National Logistic Cell and SGS-Cotecna involving billions of rupees kickbacks, there was not a single penny of corruption alleged in three references filed against him.
Mr Sharif claimed that during his tenure of over four years, the dollar remained stable, but due to the chaos caused by the Panama case judgement, the value of the US currency went up rapidly.
Accountability judge Mohammad Bashir on Wednesday disposed of an application which requested the court to confine star witness Wajid Zia to only relevant portions of reports of the Joint Investigation Team.
The court declared that the witness may be asked to testify on his own and admissibility of evidence will be decided at the time of final verdict.
Meanwhile, Khawaja Haris Ahmed, counsel for Mr Sharif, cross-examined prosecution witness Norin Shehzadi.
Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2018
Comments (25) Closed
NS has lost it. He needs to go to london and enjoy his money. Please have some mercy on People of Pakistan.
Nawaz Sharif now has another mantra for his jalsas. Justice Isa's comment is his personal observation and won't affect the verdict that has already been delivered. So, live with it and its consequences.
We have no doubt you have looted in hundred of billions. SC provide you an opportunity to provide your money trial but you failed to do so. SC did the right thing by disqualifying you otherwise you would have changed the law and make corruption legal in Pakistan to protect you and your family. You don't feel a shame for your Iqama? How can a setting PM to be allowed to have employment abroad? This is a more serious charge than money laundering...
The dollar crisis is not because of Panama Papers judgement but due to the idiotic policies of Nawaz Sharif's beloved finance minister Ishaq Dar, including artificially keeping the dollar value lower, stupid taxes while not implementing the taxes that should be implemented, and over-dependence on loans, lack of economic reforms.
Mian saab cant seem to shed his favorite Q Nikala question
“Before passing such an order like in the Panama Papers case, the judges should at least think whether this would be acceptable to the masses” So what NS is saying is that before passing any order, rather than basing it on facts and law, judges should base it on the opinion of the masses.
"Ousted PM links rupee fall against dollar to ‘chaos’ caused by Panama case judgement"
When former PM picked his relative crony to act as finance minster, who has no experience in international finance, marco and micro economics, the outcome was too obvious!
The comments from the Justice are very significant and show the reality of the verdict given. Also, why isn’t there a jit or NAB investigation for Tareen’s disqualification.
If ones is not a crook then one should show the money trail, like Imran Khan did. I voted PML-N last time, now will only PTI, for me to vote PML-N now, Nawaz and family must show the money trail.
After all, you're not an ordinary criminal, Mr. EX PM. You made off with more than what any petty thief would have been able to!
Again it is a matter of shame that the accused is looking for lame accuses instead of accepting that he and his family owns properties abroad.
NS WHY you don't produce a money trail and show all of us the resources from which you have bought these expensive properties in England? That should be simple if you were honest!!! All of us know you and your brother are looting the country and that's the reason you cant produce money trail as it corruption money.
It is time Nawaz rode into the sunset. There is no future for him as a politician in Pakistan. He should retire and enjoy the loot.
Trust me he is still a popular leader and capable of being re-elected. Corrupt or not does not make much of a difference because the opposition is no cleaner , our leaders are a reflection of our society and vice versa so we can assume that we will always be electing someone corrupt . Now if they do something for the National interest inspite of being corrupt is the real question.
Now after his disqualification he vows to play with pakistani people and Pakistan.
Plz send him jail ASAP!
You lied to UAE aithority to get iqama.
What else can he say beside asking why he has been sacked?
He is going crazy if you analyze his comments.
Even when it was iqama but is it ok for a PM level person to have an iqama of another country where he wasn't working. Then hiding of it was fair enough for a PM and why couldn't you provide such a lucrative job to your whose votes you get and then you eail about the scantity of vote. Lastly, what was the actual reason behind having an employment under your son while in a country you are serving as a PM.
Did justice Qazi Isa have observation, but Mr Nawaz how you purchase London flats, what money trial, who is owner, did you declare in your election form this flats, a simple question, second things you think IQAMA is small, it is a big hiding and money launder tool, where person can open account over the world. you have been rightly disqualified. if you are not answering this flat question ?
@Jawad may be only in Punjab, Pakistan is not limited to Punjab. There are 12 crores living in other provinces.
Nawaz Sharif is actually not used to justice based on merit. It is now becoming difficult for him day by day to get his favourite decisions by placing just a telephone call.
Nawaz Sharif's main problem is he is not used to a justice system based on merit.
This guy has no shame...lying through his teeth!