Panamagate case hearing begins today in Pak SC ahead of PTI lockdown

All eyes will be today on the Pakistan Supreme Court as it will begin the hearing in the Panama Papers case, a day ahead of the anticipated lockdown of Islamabad by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

The proceedings will be commenced by a five-judge Supreme Court bench comprising of Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Hassan, reports the Dawn.

On the docket is a set of petitions asking for the appointment of a judicial commission to investigate the investment made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and members of his family in an offshore investment company called Mossack Fonseca.

The petitions have been moved by advocate Tariq Asad, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq, PTI chief Imran Khan and Awami Muslim League head Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

The petitioners are also seeking disqualification of the Prime Minister and his close family members for their alleged investment in offshore companies.

Security arrangements have been made by the apex court itself for proper court decorum and smooth hearing of this case in court room number one.

Due to limited seating capacity, the court administration has announced that the entry would be regulated through special security passes.

Accordingly, only the petitioners or respondents whose cases are fixed in court will be allowed to enter the premises. However, advocates and journalists, who regularly come for the Supreme Court proceedings, will be exempted.

Notices have already been issued by the court to the Prime Minister, his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif, his sons Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, his son-in-law Capt R Safdar, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, National Accountability Bureau chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, the Federal Investigation Agency, Election Commission of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue and Secretaries of Law, Parliamentary Affairs, Cabinet Division, Establishment Division and Information and Broadcasting.