

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan delivered its verdict on the high-profile Panama Papers case involving Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his children on Thursday with a verdict of an investigation into charges anchored in Panama Papers.



The court ordered to initiate investigation under a joint investigation team as to how the money was siphoned off abroad. The court directed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to appear before the JIT.

A reference may be filed if Nawaz Sharif is found involved in the corruption scandal, according to the ruling.

According to 450-page ruling, the court questioned as to how Gulf Steel Mills was established and sold out. The court also underscored the need to know as to how the money went to Qatar.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Gulzar gave their dissenting note to the ruling. The court directed the JIT to produce its report within 60 days.

A five-member bench, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, and comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, reserved the judgment on February 23. Justice Khosa, on the conclusion, said this judgment would be remembered after 20 years. Anyway, it would be historical judgment and set the future course.

Three judges ruled the investigations be made into the matter. However, the two judges wrote a dissenting note to disqualify Nawaz Sharif.

Three judges ruled the investigations be made into the matter. However, the two judges wrote a dissenting note to disqualify Nawaz Sharif.

The court said the JIT be formed within seven days with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and SECP to be included in the team. The court said the investigators should have representation from State Bank of Pakistan, ISI, and MI.