ISLAMABAD, DEC 06, (DNA) – A five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali resumed hearing of the Panama Leaks case today (Tuesday) on petitions by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and other parties.

Children of the Sharif family submitted a petition in the Supreme Court requesting for hearing on a daily basis. “The issue is very critical and the work of institutions is getting affected,” the petition stated.

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed said that the government is very nervous. “It is submitting new documents everyday. We will accept whatever decision the court takes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan said that he has reached the court to hear “what stories the liars have to tell”.

During the hearing Cheif Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that the court has kept its options open. “We will form a commission if we feel the need to.”

He said that the FBR and FIA have not done their job. “If these institutions do not want to work, why not close them,” he said.

Under the supervision of Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, it would be the eighth hearing on Panama Leaks case. Up till now PM Nawaz and his children; Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz have filed their official response on offshore companies and their flats in London.

Meanwhile, there has been a change in legal team of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, the legal panel of the opposition party now is headed by Naeem Bukhari. Senior lawyer Hamid Khan excused himself from the case, due to ‘media pressure’.

In the last hearing, Supreme Court asked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to elaborate about the businesses owned by the Sharif family saying the court cannot review political statement, nor can it announce a verdict on the basis of news reports.

The bench asked PTI counsel to elaborate as to wherefrom the capital for Jeddah steel mill came and how was the money transferred to London. The judges told the PTI attorney if Sharif family’s link with offshore companies prior to 2006 is established then the entire burden would be shifted on them (Sharifs).”We cannot review political statements and if a verdict was announced on the basis of news reports then your client may also have to face difficulty,” the judges said.

“We cannot review political statements and if a verdict was announced on the basis of news reports then your client may also have to face difficulty,” the judges said.=DNA

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