Pakistan SC asks Sharif’s family to produce money trail in Panamagate case

Embattled Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday contested the graft charges against him and his family in the Supreme Court, saying the Panama probe panel did not produce any document to prove that he was the owner of the posh London flats, which are at the centre of the high-profile case. The apex court started hearing the scandal on Monday after the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) submitted its final report on July 10, recommending that a corruption case be filed against Mr. Sharif and his family for alleged money-laundering in the 1990s, when he twice served as Prime Minister, to purchase assets in London. Opposition parties say the London flats were purchased through illegal money which Mr. Sharif and his family have rejected. But so far they are unable to satisfy the court about the source of money used to purchase these properties.

No specific graft charge: lawyer

Mr. Sharif’s lawyer Khawaja Harris stressed that the JIT “did not level any specific charge of corruption against Sharif.” He also said that the JIT has not produced any document to prove that Mr. Sharif (67) was the owner of the London flats. Mr. Harris’s arguments were directed at the six-member JIT, two of whom were from the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Military Intelligence. He said the JIT had overstepped its mandate given to it by the court and had based its findings on the documents, which were of no evidentiary value as per the Pakistani laws.

Country stares at turmoil

If Mr. Sharif loses the case in the Supreme Court, it could cost him his premiership, throwing Pakistan into a turmoil. Mr. Sharif has refused to quit, calling the JIT report a compilation of “allegations and assumptions.” His decision to stay in power was endorsed by the federal cabinet last week. However, the three-member apex bench observed that Mr. Sharif has not provided the details of all assets and source of income in the form of his tax returns.

Maryam the real owner

Justice Ijazul Ahsan said the Sharif family has not produced any document to prove that the Prime Minister’s son Hussain Nawaz was the original owner of the London flats. He said JIT has found that Sharif’s daughter Maryam was the real owner of those apartments. Justice Ejaz Afzal told Mr. Sharif’s counsel that the Sharif family has not provided the money trail to establish that the London flats were legally purchased. “We have been waiting for them since Day One to come forward and provide the money trail,” he said, but added that the court would decide the case on the basis of evidence and it was not bound by the findings of the JIT.

Where come the money?

Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh raised questions about the sources of funds used to set up the Hill Metal steel company in Saudi Arabia, which is allegedly owned by the Sharifs. The judges appeared quite aggressive and grilled Mr. Sharif’s counsel about the source of money used to establish businesses in Gulf and the United Kingdom by the Sharif family. “The real question is where did the money for [family] properties in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and London came from? We have not yet received an answer to this fundamental question,” Justice Ijazul Ahsan said.

Bench offers a choice

The Bench also asked Mr. Sharif’s counsel whether the court should decide the case by its opinion over the concealment of facts or refer the case to an accountability court for trial. The counsel urged the court to decide it on merit and stressed that the JIT was biased and his client had done nothing illegal. Later, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s counsel began his arguments but the court adjourned the case for further hearing until Thursday.