All documents presented in court, Tareen's counsel informs SC

All documents presented in court, Tareen's counsel informs SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has resumed hearing the disqualification reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Jahangir Tareen today.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar is hearing the petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi.

During the hearing, Tareen’s lawyer Sikander Bashir Mohman said his client paid for the offshore company through a bank. In 2011, Tareen sent abroad £2.5 million, said the lawyer. In 2012, an amount of £5,000,000 was transferred, he added.

Mohman said that the bank record exists of the payments made to the trust and a loan was also taken worth Rs200 million from a bank by mortgaging the plot.

Justice Umar Atta Bandiyal inquired how the loan was returned and through which mode.

Justice Faisal Arab demanded that the documents pertaining to the Shiny Star View Limited Trust should be presented, to which the lawyer said that currently the details aren’t available but can be in case the court orders.

In the hearing on Tuesday, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in his remarks said that it seems as if one person provided answers for Tareen and PTI Chairman Imran Khan — who is also nominated in the petition.

The court asked for documents but up till now the documents have not been submitted, he said to the PTI counsel.

During yesterday’s hearing, Tareen’s lawyer told the court that his client's offshore company was registered in 2011 and through the company a plot worth more than two million pounds was purchased.

He added that the plot was then mortgaged to construct the house.

Tareen's counsel also argued that the trust deed is a secret and cannot be shared to which the court responded that the counsel had said initially that he will share all the details of the case.

CJP asks Tareen's counsel to inform how property is purchased abroad

The bench observed that the court has to be satisfied that Tareen has no control of the London property.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked it seems as if Tareen made Shiny Star View Limited Trust ‘for camouflage and gaining benefit’.

The petition seeks the disqualification of PTI Chairman Imran and the party’s Secretary General Jahangir Tareen from holding public office, over non-disclosure of assets, owning offshore companies, and receiving funds for the party from prohibited sources.