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Updated 15 Feb, 2017 11:04am

Panamagate Case: SC again inquired about London flats

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday resumed the hearing of Panama Papers case after two week due to Justice Azmat Saeed's health condition, Aaj News reported. 

The hearing of the case was adjourned due to unavailability of a bench member Justice Azmat Saeed Khosa on health grounds as he was rushed to a hospital in Rawalpindi due to cardiac issues.

At the start of the hearing, Justice Khosa thanked all those who prayed for the early recovery of Justice Azmat Saeed. Salman Akran Raja also welcomed Justice Azmat Saeed Shaikh for joining hearing after recovery from his ailment.

During today's proceedings today, counsel for Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, Salman Akram Raja, continued his arguments. Justifying the ownership of London flats and offshore firms, Raja said that Mian Sharif had absolute control over family business.

He said all record of Sharif family had been usurped in 1999; hence, it is not possible for Sharif family to produce record spanning over last 45 years.

He said that there was no charge against the Prime Minister and action against his children was not possible. The counsel said it is also unprecedented that a family has been asked to present property record of last forty to forty five years.

Salman Akram Raja said there is no gap that Hussain Nawaz is the owner of Nielson and Nescol.

Raja continued his arguments that the Sharif family did not own the London flats in 1999. Between 1993 and 1996, they were owned by the Al-Thani family, and in January 2006 they were transferred to Hussain Nawaz. In July the certificated were transferred to the Minerva firm, Raha added.

"If my client is guilty, the onus to prove it is on the petitioner", Raja said.

The counsel will continue his arguments on Thursday.

In last hearing on Tuesday - two weeks before, the top court inquired about London flats. Justice Khosa observed, “We can presume that Mian Sharif invested 12 million Dirhams in Qatari family’s real estate business and it is possible they acquired London flats using that money.”

The Sharif family counsel expressed inability to name the owner of two offshore companies, Neilson and Nescoll, which acquired London flats in 1993.

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