SC seeks report on Pakistanis named in Panama Papers

Issues notices to govt, NAB in petitions seeking action against money launderers

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the federal government seeking reports on action taken against 436 Pakistanis named in the Panama Papers.

A two-member bench of the apex court chaired by Justice Ejaz Afzal started hearing the petitions filed by Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Sirajul Haq and Advocate Tariq Asad.

The petitioners seek action against all those named in the Panama Papers. The court had clubbed both the petitions into one.

Advocate Asad started with the request that the court should act against all (those whose have appeared in the leaks) without any discrimination.

“These companies are being established to evade taxes,” Asad stated, adding that the court should take action against all such people who engaged in laundering money.



Justice Afzal remarked that he was in the bench that heard the Panama Papers case earlier and “we will decide (the fate of) this case”.

“Does your application seek action against owners of the companies having assets beyond means?” he asked Asad.

Afzal said it was the job of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to look into such cases and not of the SC.

“Corruption has crept into every institution of the state and there is need of concerted efforts to eradicate the menace,” he remarked.

In addition, the advocate requested the bench to make the Ministry of Interior and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan as respondents in the case.

After listening to arguments, notices were issued to the federation and NAB and the bench adjourned the hearing indefinitely.