CJP forms larger bench, excluding himself, to hear Panamagate case on Jan 4

Five-judge bench will be headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa

ISLAMABAD: Immediately after taking oath  as the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday constituted a five-judge larger bench to hear the Panamagate case.

The five-judge bench which will hear the Panama case on January 4 will be headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa. The bench also comprises of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmad,Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan.



Interestingly, Justice Amir Hani Muslim who was a part of the earlier proceedings in Panamagate case has not been included in the new bench.

The SC in November took up a slew of petitions seeking PM Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification in the wake of Panama Papers, which in April revealed that the PM’s family members had stashed money in offshore companies.

The outgoing Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, who was also heading the bench and conducted 10 hearings of the case, adjourned the case till first week of January. With his retirement yesterday the old bench was dissolved.