DAWN.COM

Today's Paper | April 29, 2024

Updated 08 Sep, 2017 10:28pm

Panamagate case: SC hearings on Sharif family review petitions to begin Sept 12

The Supreme Court (SC) will begin hearing review petitions filed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his children challenging its verdict on the Panama Papers case on September 12, according to a court roster issued on Friday.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal, will also hear a review petition filed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the case.

Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan are to serve on the bench alongside Justice Afzal.

In a landmark ruling, the SC on July 28 ordered Nawaz Sharif to step down as prime minister.

The SC judgement concluded Sharif had been 'dishonest' by not declaring in his nomination papers for the 2013 General Election ─ as required under Section 12(2)(f) of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA), 1976 ─ a salary of 10,000 dirhams receivable as chairman of the board of Dubai-based company Capital FZE owned by his son Hassan Nawaz.

Explore: The technicality that led to Nawaz Sharif's disqualification

In its verdict, the SC had also ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to open references against Dar and members of the Sharif family.

Subsequently, the former premier filed four review applications in the apex court against the July 28 verdict ─ three on Aug 15 and one on Aug 26.

In his review petitions, Sharif asked the SC to stay further implementation of the Panamagate verdict that resulted in his disqualification. He also asked the SC to declared the verdict void and revoke it, arguing that his not drawing a salary and not declaring it could not be made the basis of his disqualification.

On August 25, Sharif's children — Hussain, Hassan and Maryam — and his son-in-law retired Captain Muhammad Safdar also filed review petitions challenging the apex court's verdict.

In the petitions, the SC was requested to set aside its directive to NAB to file corruption references against Sharif's children and son-in-law relating to the Avenfield properties in London and different offshore companies.

In his petition, Dar also challenged the court's verdict on the Panama Papers case, claiming that a reference against him cannot be filed based on a "spurious joint investigation team report".

NAB today filed four corruption references against Sharif, his three children, and Ishaq Dar in compliance with the SC order.

Read Comments

Punjab CM Maryam’s uniformed appearance at parade causes a stir Next Story