Panama case verdict expected in mid April, say sources

ISLAMABAD: The announcement of a verdict in the much-hyped Panama Leaks case is expected in the mid of next month, sources confided to Geo News Thursday, as debate continues about possible fate of the prime minister in case of a decision against him.

It all began in April 2016 with a huge leak of 11.5 million documents from the database of a Panama-based law firm, Mossack Fonseca, exposing politicians, celebrities, businessmen and criminals who had set up offshore companies.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family came under fire at home with opposition parties accusing them of widespread corruption, after names of PM’s children cropped up in the leaked documents from the Panamian law firm.

On October 20, 2016, the Supreme Court took up petitions by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamhoori Watan Party and others for hearing, in an open court, beginning the long-drawn proceedings of the case in the apex court.

The five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court concluded hearing the Panama Papers case on February 23, and reserved the final judgment.

On March 28, some reports emerged suggesting that the much-awaited judgment in the case will be announced on Monday. But sources privy to the matter say that there is no substance in rumours regarding announcement of the verdict and it is expected in the mid of April.

Headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, the larger bench comprised Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan. 

There is no official word yet on when to expect the judgment. The Supreme Court has institutional measures in place to curb informal flow of sensitive information such as the likely contours of a reserved judgment or the likely date of its announcement.