Pakistan SC gives Sharif's family ultimatum in Panamagate

Sharif said he had declared all his assets in 2013, hence he was not liable for disqualification under the Constitution.

Islamabad, Nov 3: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday denied holding offshore companies in a written response to the Supreme Court on Panamagate petitions.

In his reply, Sharif said he had declared all his assets in 2013, hence he was not liable for disqualification under the Constitution.

Expressing displeasure over the failure of Sharif family's counsel to submit a reply on behalf of Maryam, Hussain and Hassan (all children of the Prime Minister), the five-judge larger bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali gave an ultimatum to Sharif's three children to respond to the notices served regarding the investigation.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed that by law, if an individual fails to submit a reply in any matter, it is to be considered that he or she is accepting the allegations. The court has asked counsel to submit responses by Monday.

Angered by the delay in the case, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader Imran Khan said, "Government is using delaying tactics in SC. Despite being given two weeks plus to file reply, Sharif lawyer failed to file Sharif kids' replies."

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court asked Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to submit their Terms of Reference for the commission to be formed to probe the Panama Papers leaks.

IANS