ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday observed that there was no money trail regarding Sharif family’s London flats and asked the government to show how the money was transferred from Jeddah to London.
A five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali resumed the hearing of Panama Leaks case. All the documents submitted to the court by the Sharif family as responses were different from the speeches made in the assembly, said the apex court in its remarks.
During the case proceeding, Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed that there are discrepancies between the Prime Minister’s documents and his public statements.
Meanwhile, Justice Azmat Saeed questioned about financial source for Jeddah steel mill. He noted that London flats were purchased through Qatar investment, however, there is no clarification regarding funding for Jeddah steel mill.
The court asked, ‘How the finances were raised for Jeddah Steel Mill? How loans were taken from Saudi banks? How and at what value, Jeddah Steel Mill was sold? How money was transferred from Jeddah to London? How Tariq Shafi transferred 12 million dirhams to Qatar?’
Regarding the letter by Qatari prince, dated November 5, 2016, the court asked about the legal status of the letter, since the name of the recipient was not mentioned in it.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) lead counsel in the Panamagate case Naeem Bukhari said Prime Minister was misleading the court through false statements. He argued that the premier did not mention Qatar investment in his speech.
He was not truthful and honest (sadiq and ameen) thus liable to be disqualified from the National Assembly, the PTI lawyer told court.
He claimed Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had forged his cousin, Tariq Shafi’s signatures on few documents because there was a clear difference in the signatures on the affidavit and the contract.
The court maintained that PTI should prove a pre-2006 connection between the Sharif family and offshore companies. The hearing was attended by PTI Chairman Imran Khan, JI Chief Siraj-ul-Haq, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and others. The Panamagate case was later adjourned until December 6.
