SC reserves verdict in Imran Khan, Jahangir Tareen disqualification case
The PTI leaders have been facing a disqualification case filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi
November 14, 2017
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court reserved on Tuesday the verdict against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan and Secretary General Jahangir Tareen in the disqualification case.
During the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar who heads the three-member bench, observed that it should not be expected that the court will give its verdict in the case tomorrow.
He remarked that the bench is looking for the truth, and will have to see if the respondent was dishonest in his dealings.
PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi filed a case against Imran and Tareen seeking their disqualification from Parliament over their alleged non-declaration of assets and ownership of offshore companies.
Presenting his arguments, Abbasi's counsel Akram Sheikh said Imran changed his stance during the course of hearing 18 times.
The chief justice observed that the benefit of speaking the truth is that one does not have to remember what was said before.
Earlier, responding to arguments by Imran's counsel, Babar Awan, the chief justice observed that the PTI chief declared his London flat but not the offshore company.
Awan further informed the bench that Imran declared the London flat in 2000 via an amnesty scheme.
Responding to the chief justice's observation that the offshore company was still not declared, Imran's counsel contended that his client wasn’t the beneficial owner of the company nor its shareholder which is why it was not declared.
Abbasi had filed the petition in November last year. It accused the PTI leaders of not declaring their assets to the Election Commission of Pakistan and violations of the lncome Tax Ordinance, 1979 and Peoples Act, 1974. It also claimed that the PTI is a 'foreign-funded' party.
Tareen's case
Hearing Tareen's case, who was represented by his counsel Sikandar Mohmand, the court observed that it seems Tareen is the beneficial owner of the offshore company, Shiny View Ltd.
Justice Umar Ata Bandiyal noted that it is clear in the trust deed submitted by Tareen that there are two lifetime beneficiaries of the trust.
Abbasi’s counsel argued that the presence of the offshore company is not declared in tax returns and nomination papers of Tareen.
During the previous hearing on November 9, the chief justice observed that Tareen has already served his punishment according to the law.
Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali presented his arguments before the bench, saying Tareen’s counsel challenged two sections of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) act.
He added that the fine imposed on Tareen by SECP in 2008 for insider trading has been submitted in the national kitty and there is no point objecting to the law after 10 years.
Tareen also provided the court the trust deed regarding a 12-acre property he owns in the United Kingdom.
The case against Imran is related to the bank account detail of his offshore company, Niazi Services Limited.
