Panama Papers scandal: Plea to form larger LHC bench turned down

Judge said decision in this regard will be taken based on federal govt’s reply.

LAHORE: Justice Shahid Waheed of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday turned down a request to constitute a larger bench to hear petitions regarding Panama Papers leaks.

The judge said notices had already been issued to the federal government on the petitions and that the court would decide about the larger bench once it received a reply from the government.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawyer Gohar Nawaz Sindhu had moved the application in his pending petition. The petitioner requested the court to initiate proceedings against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his alleged involvement in setting up offshore companies and concealing facts from the public in this regard.

Nawaz Sharif, his sons Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, daughter Maryam Nawaz, former interior minister Rehman Malik, the Election Commission of Pakistan, the National Accountability Bureau, and the Federal Investigation have been made respondent in the application.

Sindhu requested the court to order he NAB to hold an inquiry into the Panama Papers scandal. He requested that PM Sharif be declared disqualified for public office. He said the Election Commission should be directed to start an inquiry against the prime minister for concealing facts from the public while submitting his nomination papers. He said the sons and daughter of the PM should be barred from contesting elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2016.