ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday formed a five-member larger bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa in Panama Review Petitions Case.
The larger bench was formed after a three-member bench of the Supreme Court consisting of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan referred the review petitions of Sharif family to the Chief Justice for constitution of a larger bench.
The new larger bench led by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa will being hearing review petitions in Panama Papers Case tomorrow (Wednesday).
The review petitions were filed by advocate Khawaja Haris and advocate Salman Akram Raja separately in the Supreme Court on behalf of the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family against the Panama verdict announced on July 28, 2017. The Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s Counsel Tariq Hasan also filed the review petition on behalf of his Client against Panama decision.
Earlier during the course of proceedings today, the Counsel for Nawaz Sharif’s Children advocate Salman Akram Raja pleaded the Court for constitution of a larger bench for hearing of review petitions.
Salman Akram Raja said that the Supreme Court should first hear review petitions against the verdict of a five-member bench.
Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan remarked that majority decision was of the three-member bench.
Salman Akram Raja replied that the majority decision of 3-2 was merged into the five-member bench decision.
However, the bench accepted Salman Akram Raja’s plea and sent to the Chief Justice a request seeking formation of a five-judge bench and adjourned hearing of the Case till Wednesday.
