ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed Hussain Nawaz’s objection to the recording of the Panama case Joint Investigation Team (JIT)’s sessions.
The special implementation bench formed to oversee the JIT’s proceedings had on June 14 reserved its decision over the prime minister’s son’s petition challenging the recording of JIT’s proceedings after his interrogation picture was leaked to the media.
The three-member bench is headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and comprises Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh.
Reading out the verdict, Justice Ejaz said usage of technology for correction of record is not prohibited, however, video recording cannot be used as evidence, the court remarked.
“Till the law is amended, the video recordings will not be shown in the court room,” Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, head of the special implementation bench of the Supreme Court, said
The judge also noted that action had been taken against one suspect identified in connection with the leaking of Hussain’s photo.
With regards to the official who leaked Hussain Nawaz’s picture from a JIT session, the bench observed that the person behind the leak has been identified.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan warned to not make the case ‘media circus’ and also asked the government spokesman to talk carefully. He said that the court doesn’t want to hide judicial proceeding as it is not afraid of anyone.
Meanwhile, Justice Azmat Saeed remarked that government publishes article in its favor.
We are not immature that we cannot understand anything, he added.
The bench also directed the attorney general (AG) to submit a detailed response in court over the JIT’s objections. The JIT is conducting a probe into the prime minister’s family’s international business assets in light of the Supreme Court’s April 20 judgment.
Talking to media, Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Talal Chaudhry said their legal experts will review the verdict in detail and file a response
Talal said they believe in maintaining harmony between state institutions. He added that however, the party has a right to challenge legal matters in the appropriate forum. Talal stressed that the person who leaked Hussain’s picture should be identified.
He also dismissed accusations that the party is involved in any campaign against the judiciary or the JIT and said they fully respect the Apex court and other state institutions.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry, speaking to the media, said a smear campaign is being run against the JIT and the Supreme Court.
He said as per Tuesday’s proceedings, the court believes the person who leaked Hussain’s picture has been identified whereas the AG thinks the person’s name has not been mentioned by the JIT. Chaudhry said who is right will soon be cleared when the JIT’s report is released officially
He said a campaign was initiated against judiciary on the leakage of Hussain Nawaz’s picture but PTI will not let anyone to derail the system, he added.
INP