ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Capt (R) Safdar, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, DG Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), chairman Federal Board of Revenue, and the attorney general in the Panama leaks case.
A three member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, had taken up the petitions seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Awami Muslim League in their petitions have urged the apex court to set up a commission to investigate Panama Leaks issue and for the disqualification of the Prime Minister for concealing assets.
The judge has remarked that the decision to deem the petitions admissible for hearing will be made after hearing the stance of Attorney General and all the parties mentioned in the petition. The hearing was adjourned for two weeks.
Following the hearing, PTI chief Imran Khan talked to reporters and vowed to bring “king” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under law. He said the court hearing was the first step in the accountability process.
He requested the SC for speedy trial of the case. He added that they have already been waiting to get the justice for more than three years. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he asserted.
“We hope that the case’s proceedings will reveal details of several issues that were concealed from the nation.”
He regretted that “the parliament did not play its role” but expressed satisfaction that the SC did.
The PTI chief said that protest is the party’s constitutional right. “Our protest is against the prime minister and all corrupt institutions.”
It is our legal right to protest and to knock the doors of judiciary, he said adding that the PTI was using both of its rights. ‘We are not afraid of accountability’
Responding to PTI chief, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said, “We are not afraid of accountability.”
In a counter-strike, he asked Imran Khan why he invested charity for the Shaukat Khanam Hospital into his friends’s company.
“Nawaz Sharif is ready to answer each and every question. We will not resist on any judicial or public forum.”
But the question is, who will hold Imran Khan accountable for his misdeeds, he said.
Awami Muslim League chief Shaikh Rashid, who is also a petitioner seeking disqualification of the prime minister, said that nation has been looking to the judiciary for justice.
He said that he asked the judges to give a showcause notice to PM Nawaz.
Talking about November 2nd protest, he said, “We will block the entire capital city, including airports.”
“I am a beacon of hope for people and I distribute hopes among people.”
The PTI, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Barrister Zafarullah Khan of Watan Party, AML chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Advocate Asad had filed petitions seeking the disqualification of the PM and his family members.
