Onus of proof of London flats' money trail lies on Sharif family: SC

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa says top court will do everything possible to get to the truth

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday said the onus of proof of the money trail of London flats lies on the shoulders of the Sharif family.

During the hearing, the top court remarked that it would do everything possible to get to the truth. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, while referring to Article 184 (3) of the Constitution said the SC has ample power when it comes to serving justice.



"We are not powerless...we can ask the Sharif family to show us complete records to justify their money trail," Justice Khosa remarked. He further said that members of the Sharif family will be questioned if they tried to conceal records from the court.

Meanwhile, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan observed that the SC is not a trial court, hence it will not inquire into the matter.



"We will go by the green book" Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh stated, explaining that the bench will not record evidences. The hearing of the case has been adjourned until January 9.

On Thursday, for the first time during the ongoing hearing of the Panamagate case, the top court hinted at reviewing the alleged contradictions in the statements – made during interviews over the years – of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members about ownership of their London properties.

When PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari referred to interviews of PM Sharif, his children and wife to establish their contradictory stances, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa – who heads the Supreme Court’s five-judge larger bench – observed that there are two kinds of news reports. “The first is a general analysis and the second is related to the statements (interviews) of an individual,” he said, adding that “if someone does not deny his statement then it has value. However, if he denies then he can be confronted.”

Referring to the interviews of the members of the Sharif family, Justice Khosa said if they denied their statements regarding their London flats in their previous interviews then the court might summon them.