Panama Case hearing: PM’s counsel continues argument

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – A five-member larger bench led by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa resumed the hearing of Panama Leaks case in the Supreme Court on Monday. The Prime Minister’s counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan continued his arguments during the hearing. The counsel said his client has not made any mis-statement or lie in his addresses to the National Assembly and the nation. He said that Article 66 of the constitution gives freedom of speech to parliamentarians. He said speeches made by the parliamentarians on the floor of the house are not liable to be raised at any court proceedings. He said only the parliament can waive this privilege. PM’s counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan admitted that the Supreme Court has the jurisdiction to disqualify parliamentarians but they cannot disqualify the premier on the basis of his speeches under Article 184(3) of the Constitution. “SC does not have jurisdiction to hold an inquiry into this matter,” the counsel said. The counsel argued that a seven-member bench has decided former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s case. He said that the decisions on all the disqualification cases were made after recording the evidence. PTI leaders Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi kept yawning during the hearing. The hearing has been adjourned till tomorrow (Tuesday).