Army awaits Panamagate decision based on justice: DG ISPR

Says his response to a query on the high-profile case during UK visit was reported out of context

In the Panamagate case, the army, like every Pakistani, is awaiting a verdict based on justice and merit, said the chief military spokesperson on Saturday.

In a post on Twitter, ISPR’s Director General Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said his reply to a question on the high-profile case during his recent visit to the United Kingdom had been reported out of context.

“Response to Q [question] on Panama in the UK reported incomplete/out of context. The army, like every Pakistani awaits a decision based on justice and merit,” Maj Gen Ghafoor’s tweet read.

 

Response to Q on Panama in UK reported incomplete / out of context. Army, like every Pakistani awaits a decision based on justice and merit.

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 8, 2017

Reports on Wednesday quoted the ISPR chief as saying that Supreme Court’s verdict on the Panamagate case will be acceptable to the army.

The five-judge Supreme Court bench hearing the Panamagate case reserved its ruling on February 23. At the time, lead judge Justice Asif Saeed Khosa had observed that a short order could not be passed for a case of this magnitude. “26,000 pages have been submitted in this case and we will read each word of them. This is not a case for which a short order can be passed.”



The much-awaited verdict is expected to be announced by the mid of this month. However, no official cause-list regarding the pronouncement of verdict has so far been issued by the registrar office of the Supreme Court.

The ruling was delayed by more than a month – at first because all the judges who had heard the case were in different registries of the apex court and then because all five of them are giving their individual input in writing due to the importance of the case.



Still, everyone in Pakistan has been on the edge of their seats despite the weeks-long wait, with politicians especially anxious as their future course of action depends on the outcome of the judgment. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which is among the petitioners, has voiced its concern over the delay saying it was creating uncertainty among the general public.