ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The three-member Special Bench of the Supreme Court in Panama Papers Case on Tuesday observed that it would not give its verdict in accordance with the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) final report rather it would take into account the documents.
“Court won’t make decision on JIT final report,” the member of the three-member Bench Justice Ijaz Ul Hassan said in his remarks while hearing the arguments presented by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Counsel Khawaja Haris in the apex court.
Justice Ijaz Ul Hassan said that the JIT made its recommendations in the light of the investigation.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed said that the Court is not bound to accept the recommendations put forward by the JIT in its final report submitted on July 10. He said that the Court’s order has more importance than what the JIT recommended.
The Headed of the Bench Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan remarked that the JIT just submitted its recommendations; however, the final verdict would be announced by the Supreme Court.
In his arguments, the prime minister’s Counsel said that the probe carried out by the JIT was not transparent.
Khawaja Haris said that the JIT didn’t seek explanation from any respondent on documents, adding that the Court can’t announce its decision on such report.
Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked that it was up to the Court to decision either whole JIT report would be accept or not.
Justice Ejaz Afzal also said that the JIT has ceased its investigation into the Panama Case while Justice Ijaz Ul Hassan remarked that there is no evidence in volume 10 of the JIT report.
Earlier on Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Counsel Naeem Bukhari, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Counsel Taufiq Asif and Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed gave their arguments before the Court.
It is pertinent here that the Six-member JIT had recommended to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to send a reference in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Children.
However, the Sharif Family and the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar filed objections to JIT report in the Supreme Court on Monday.
