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Nawaz Sharif escapes Supreme Court disqualification

Apex court gives split verdict, forms JIT.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday escaped disqualification as the Supreme Court announced a split decision in the Panama leaks scandal against his family. The apex court ordered a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in Panama Papers case. Two of the five judges ruled to disqualify the PM for telling lies about his wealth. Three ruled in favour of the JIT.

The decision comprising 540 pages was announced by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa whereas other members of the bench that included Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan were also present on the occasion.

The SC directed to form a JIT comprising National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), State Bank of Pakistan, Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence officials and will be headed by a director-general level FIA officer.

“A thorough probe is required,” Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said, announcing the decision. The bench further directed to form JIT within seven days, and present a report within 60 days. Justice Khosa asserted that the FIA and NAB were unsuccessful in playing their role in the case effectively.

The case against Mr Sharif stems from documents leaked from the Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm, which appeared to show that his daughter and two sons owned offshore holding companies and used them to buy properties in London. At the heart of the matter was the legitimacy of the funds used by the Sharif family to buy several high-end London properties via offshore companies.

Opposition parties in Pakistan saw the published documents as proof of alleged money laundering by the premier. Prime Minister Sharif addressed the nation twice, once on April 5 and April 22 to take the nation into confidence and denied corruption allegations.He offered to form a judicial commission to probe the leaks against his family which was denied by Opposition parties.

However, lawyers for Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) party, argue the paper trail for the funds is non-existent, and say the onus is on Sharif to prove his relatives did not engage in money laundering.

The PM offered to establish a parliamentary committee to form joint Terms of References. The SC took up the case on October 20 when Imran Khan warned the government of alleged lockdown of the federal capital last year and condensed the petitions filed by PTI, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Awami Muslim League against the premier.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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