Panama Papers: Petitioner to add to case against PM
Hearing of petition seeking PM’s disqualification adjourned till April 14
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Justice Shahid Waheed of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday accepted a request to furnish more documents along with a petition, seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other politicians for allegedly investing in offshore companies.
During proceedings on Monday, Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Gohar Sindhu, the petitioner, said that more disclosures had been made about the PM’s involvement with two offshore companies. Sindhu said that he should be allowed to submit more documents with his petition to substantiate his stance. The judge accepted the request and adjourned the hearing till April 14.
The petitioner has named PM Nawaz Sharif, his two sons Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, daughter Maryam Nawaz, former interior minister Rehman Malik, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as respondents in the petition.
The petitioner had said several politicians were involved in transferring public money abroad and establishing offshore companies. “Public money was invested in offshore companies. The money was taken abroad through illegal means,” he said.
He said that the politicians had concealed the facts from the public and had not disclosed the investments while filing nomination for elections. “After Hussain Nawaz’s admission about owning companies outside Pakistan, the PM should be declared ineligible to hold any public office,” he said. The petitioner said that Hussain Nawaz had been a minor when the offshore companies were purchased in 1993 and 1994. “The PM did not declare his assets. He concealed facts from the public and thus, he cannot be a member of the National Assembly,” he said.
Sindhu requested the court to order the NAB to hold an inquiry into the claims. He also requested the court to direct the ECP to start an inquiry against the PM. The petitioner asked the court to stop the PM’s sons and daughter from contesting elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2016.
Justice Shahid Waheed of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday accepted a request to furnish more documents along with a petition, seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other politicians for allegedly investing in offshore companies.
During proceedings on Monday, Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Gohar Sindhu, the petitioner, said that more disclosures had been made about the PM’s involvement with two offshore companies. Sindhu said that he should be allowed to submit more documents with his petition to substantiate his stance. The judge accepted the request and adjourned the hearing till April 14.
The petitioner has named PM Nawaz Sharif, his two sons Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, daughter Maryam Nawaz, former interior minister Rehman Malik, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as respondents in the petition.
The petitioner had said several politicians were involved in transferring public money abroad and establishing offshore companies. “Public money was invested in offshore companies. The money was taken abroad through illegal means,” he said.
He said that the politicians had concealed the facts from the public and had not disclosed the investments while filing nomination for elections. “After Hussain Nawaz’s admission about owning companies outside Pakistan, the PM should be declared ineligible to hold any public office,” he said. The petitioner said that Hussain Nawaz had been a minor when the offshore companies were purchased in 1993 and 1994. “The PM did not declare his assets. He concealed facts from the public and thus, he cannot be a member of the National Assembly,” he said.
Sindhu requested the court to order the NAB to hold an inquiry into the claims. He also requested the court to direct the ECP to start an inquiry against the PM. The petitioner asked the court to stop the PM’s sons and daughter from contesting elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2016.