SC grants Sharif family's plea, says five-judge bench to hear review petitions

A three member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has recommended formation of a five-member bench to hear review petitions filed by family of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against the apex court's 28 July verdict over Panama Leaks decision.

Sharif's lawyer Salman Akram Raja during the case which was being heard by a three-member bench on Tuesday, argued that the Panamagate verdict was announced by five judges whereas as all the hearings in the case were conducted by three judges.

The court has sent issue to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, recommending forming five-member bench for Sharif family's review petitions, Dunya News has reported.

On July 28, SC's five-member bench had disqualified Nawaz Sharif in Panamagate and had instructed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file references.

Nawaz Sharif, his children Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz and his son-in-law Captain Safdar had filed review petitions over the decision.

The five-member bench of the top court had disqualified Sharif from holding any public office for failing to declare a salary which he had not withdrawn as an executive director of a Dubai-based company as an asset when filing his nomination papers in 2013.

The court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file references against the former PM and his children in an accountability court. The court had also ordered that one of the members the bench would also oversee proceedings of the court.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had stepped down from his post earlier after being disqualified by the apex court under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution. 

-ANI