Pakistan SC clears Maryam Nawaz in Panama Papers case

Islamabad, April 21 (IANS) The Pakistan Supreme Court has cleared Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz in the Panama Papers case, a media report said on Friday.

Last year's Panama Papers leaks, which documented the offshore dealings of many of the world's rich and powerful, alleged that Maryam was the beneficial owner of the London properties owned jointly by her brothers as well, Dawn online reported.

The petitions claimed that since Maryam was a dependant of Sharif, the Prime Minister had to declare the Mayfair properties in the wealth statement.

However, the Supreme Court bench late Thursday concluded that sufficient material was not available on the record to establish that Maryam was a dependant of the Prime Minister, in a legal sense. 

"We do not feel the necessity to discuss this aspect of the case any further, lest it should prejudice the case of either party before a competent forum if and when this issue is agitated," Dawn online quoted the verdict as saying.

Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court said that there was not enough evidence to disqualify Sharif and ordered a fresh probe into corruption charges as revealed in the Panama Papers against the Prime Minister and his two sons Hassan and Hussain. 

A Joint Investigation Team (JIT), made up of officials from the military and other probe agencies, would be set up within a week and submit a report in 60 days.

A senior lawyer and former deputy attorney general Tariq Jahangiri said that Maryam has been cleared for the time being, but in case the JIT finds some tangible evidence against her she may face proceedings as well.