PTI lead counsel Hamid Khan recuses himself in Panamagate case

According to a senior PTI leader, a new counsel will be appointed after Imran Khan returns from London

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lead counsel Hamid Khan has recused himself in the ongoing Panamagate case.

The senior lawyer informed Imran Khan about his decision on a phone call, saying after the ‘media trial’ for the last 24 hours it would be ‘impossible’ for him to being a part of the high-profile proceeding, a statement issued by the PTI's central media department said.

"No one can doubt about Hamid Khan's professional capabilities and his commitment," the PTI chief said.

Earlier on Friday, a senior party leader told The Express Tribune, a new counsel will be appointed after the party chief returns from London.



"There is a chance that the new leading counsel will be appointed next week," he said.

The development comes after judges kept snubbing the party’s lead lawyer for his grandiloquence during Thursday’s proceedings of Panama Leaks case.

As the proceedings progressed, Hamid read out three speeches of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif verbatim in an effort to prove contradictions in various claims of the Sharif family.

As soon as the PTI counsel completed reading the script, Hamid Khan faced what he had not expected; judges started admonishing him for not being incisive. Perturbed by what was unfolding, the PTI chief left his seat at least four times and stood behind his legal team fighting the case.

The scene of the PTI legal team being censured by the judges put smiles on the faces of cabinet members and other leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who had taken seats on the right side of the room.



Following Thursday’s proceedings, the PTI’s legal team earned flak from several quarters. Even Imran and top leadership was not convinced over the presentation of the case by Hamid and his team.

The issue also came under discussion in a hastily called meeting at the party chief's residence in Bani Gala. "It has been decided that Hamid Khan would continue to lead the case in the court during next hearings,” a senior legal team member said. “But the PTI will definitely revise and reconsider its strategy.”

Earlier this week, the counsel for the children of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was replaced with Akram Sheikh. Salman Aslam Butt was previously representing Maryam, Hussain and Hassan in the top court.