Panamagate scandal: Imran petitions SC to disqualify PM

PTI also seeks foreign travel ban on the Sharif family

ISLAMABAD: A verbal duel over the Panamagate scandal landed in the Supreme Court on Monday when PTI chief Imran Khan petitioned the top court seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his alleged financial corruption. If accepted by the apex court, the petition will pose a fundamental question: does Article 62 apply on Nawaz?

The petition was filed  by Naeem Bokhari on behalf of Imran Khan. It cites the court’s judgment in former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s case in which he had been disqualified for covering up his corruption. “The same applies to the case of ‘Respondent No 1’ [Nawaz Sharif] who, after making a number of misstatements and false declaration of assets, has ceased to be ‘Sadiq’ (truthful) and ‘Ameen’ (trustworthy) in terms of Article 62 of the Constitution,” it says.

It prayed the court to put the names of the Sharif family on the exit control list (ECL). The petition sought the court direction to authorities to recover looted/laundered money along with properties purchased by the Sharif family through offshore companies.

In addition, it sought court direction to the NAB chairman to complete investigation into mega corruption cases; to the interior secretary to place the Sharif family on the ECL; to the law secretary and again to the NAB chairman to initiate claims on behalf of the government for the recovery of properties in question; and to the FBR to probe and scrutinise tax returns and assets declarations of the Sharif family, and any other relief or direction that is deemed just and proper.

Ten people – including Premier Nawaz,, NAB, FBR, interior secretary, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, Captain (retd) Safdar and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar – have been named respondents in the petition.

Giving a detailed account of developments following the Panama leaks, including resignations of the Icelandic prime minister, clarification of the British premier, the petition stated: “PM Sharif addressed the nation and then the National Assembly. He did not deny that the properties in question belong to his children and gave a false statement on the floor of the house.”

The petition gave details of the tax paid by Nawaz from 1981 to 2010 and said he had evaded tax, laundered money illegally and submitted wrong declarations of assets. It also cited the confessional statement of Finance Minister Dar wherein he admitted money laundering to the tune of $14.886 million.

It also pointed out Nawaz’s stance during the last PPP government, including his demand for the resignation of then premier Gilani and cabinet members, saying no meaningful accountability could take place in their presence. Moreover the petition maintained that Nawaz had not stepped down, and that double standards and establishment of facts entail his disqualification.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2016.