ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday resumed hearing of Panamagate Case during which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sought exemption under article 248 of the Constitution.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa headed five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court resumed the hearing in Islamabad.
During the hearing, the prime minister’s Counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan sought exemption under article 248 for his Client, and also argued that every person had the right of freedom of speech guaranteed under article 19 of the Constitution.
However, Justice Khosa remarked that your Case didn’t fall under article 19. He asked Makhdoom Ali Khan to stick to his arguments relevant to the Case.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz submitted her reply to the court.
Her Counsel Shahid Hamid submitted the reply in which details of Maryam Nawaz’s five years tax returns and agricultural income were submitted.
The reply also said that after marriage, Maryam Nawaz had never remained dependent on her father. It further said that Maryam Nawaz’s spouse Captain Safdar paid his taxes regularly.
Latar talking to the media, Makhdoom Ali Khan said that they didn’t seek exemption for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under article 248; rather they just referred to it.
The Spokesman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry told media persons that the prime minister’s lawyer gave arguments to the Supreme Court under article 66.
Fawad Chaudhry said that the prime minister’s lawyer sought exemption in today’s hearing. He said that all members of the National Assembly should take notice of it.
“PML-N is telling lie to the nation,” Fawad Chaudhry said.
Article 248 of the Constitution
The immunity of the prime minister is guaranteed by article 248, which says…
(1) The President, a Governor, the Prime Minister, a Federal Minister, a Minister of State, the Chief Minister and a Provincial Minister shall not be answerable to any Court for the exercise of powers and performance of functions of their respective offices or for any act done or purported to be done in the exercise of those powers and performance of those functions:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as restricting the right of any person to bring appropriate proceedings against the Federations or a Province.
(2) No criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President or a Governor in any Court during his term of office.
(3) No process for the arrest or imprisonment of the President or a Governor shall issue from any Court during his term of office.
(4) No civil proceedings in which relief is claimed against the President or a Governor shall be instituted during his term of office in respect of any thing done or not done by him in his personal capacity whether before or after he enters upon his office unless, at least sixty days before the proceedings are instituted, notice in writing has been delivered to him, or sent to him in the manner prescribed by law, stating the nature of the proceedings, the cause of action, the name, description and place of residence of the party by whom the proceedings are to be instituted and the relief which the party claims.
