Panamagate scandal: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, daughter claim Qatari Prince gave money for London flats

Islamabad: Submitting documentary evidence on legitimacy of their assets hours before the Supreme Court resumed its hearing on the Panamagate scandal, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday claimed that a Qatari Prince paid for their London apartments.

The Sharif family, along with a 397-page document consisting details of transactions as well as receipts of payments since 2011, submitted a letter from a Qatari Prince stating that he gave money to the premier`s family for the purchase of flats in London, reports the Express Tribune.

While Maryam submitted the evidence required by the court, her brothers Hassan and Hussain, both of whom live abroad, failed to submit relevant documents. 

The five-member larger bench chaired by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali expressed its disappointment over failure of the premier`s sons to comply with the court orders to submit evidence within stipulated time.

The bench also directed all parties to exchange the documents` copies and adjourned the hearing till November 17, the day it will decide whether to form a commission to investigate the matter or not.

During the last hearing, the government had sought 15 days to submit the required documents but the court ordered the Prime Minister`s counsel to submit evidence within seven days while stating that it wants to conclude the case as soon as possible.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Shaikh Rashid have already submitted evidence in support of their claims against the premier`s family.

The documents submitted by Khan claim that Prime Minister Sharif paid only Rs. 897 in income tax during the period of money laundering of Rs. 145 million.

The document includes details of alleged bank accounts held by the Sharif family and loan write-off schemes.Khan alleged that an amount of over Rs. 56 million was sent out of the country between 1988 and 1991 by Sharif`s family.