A far-reaching verdict on the Panamagate case is expected - an opinion premised on the observations/questions put forth by the five learned judges during the course of the proceedings though these may not be reflected in the final verdict. This was stated by former vice chairman of Pakistan Bar Council, Dr Farogh Nasim while talking exclusively with this correspondent.
"A short order was not announced which means that a detailed verdict will be announced shored up by good and valid reasoning but the lawyers agreed whatever the decision it will have a far-reaching effect," Dr Farogh Nasim said while responding to a question. A judgment is reserved for one of two reasons: (i) the case is technically complicated; and/or (ii) it has reams of evidentiary data which requires time to sift through. In the Panama case both apply and hence the five member bench - with two very well versed in criminal law and the other three in civil corporate law - reserved judgment, several lawyers told Business Recorder.
The five member larger bench led by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa reserved verdict in the Panamagate case on February 23 observing that it was not a case where a short order could be passed, adding that the court will announce the verdict in accordance with the law after considering the material submitted in the case.
Senior lawyers told this correspondent that a reasonable time in this instance could be within three months; however, after the lapse of three months, any party to the case may invoke the court's jurisdiction to re-hear the matter. Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Kamran Murtaza, said there are four possible options for the Supreme Court with respect to the Panama papers case. Option one is for the apex court to accept the plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for further trial of the Sharif family.
Option two is for the court to dismiss the pleas seeking disqualification of Sharif family from Parliament on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
Option three may be to form a commission to probe the matter further and option four is for the Supreme Court to issue directives to any one or two investigation agencies to probe the matter. Kamran Murtaza said that the apex court cannot disqualify Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under Articles 61 and 62 on the grounds that the Prime Minister has violated the said Articles of the Constitution. He added that the court may issue directives to the Speaker National Assembly to expedite the process if a reference is pending before him against any parliamentarian but no such reference is pending against the Prime Minister.