The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed Hussain Nawaz’s objection to the recording of the Panama case Joint Investigation Team (JIT)’s sessions.
The special implementation bench formed to oversee the JIT’s proceedings had on June 14 reserved its decision over the prime minister’s son’s petition challenging the recording of JIT’s proceedings after his interrogation picture was leaked to the media.
Also Read: Panama Case JIT levels startling allegations against govt
The three-member is headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and comprises Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh.
Reading out the verdict, Justice Ejaz said the recordings cannot be presented as evidence and is only to be used for maintaining an accurate transcript of the proceedings.
Also Read: Hussain Nawaz's JIT photo leak extraordinary: Marriyum Aurangzeb
With regards to the official who leaked Hussain Nawaz's picture from a JIT session, the bench observed that the person behind the leak has been identified.
The JIT is conducting a probe into the prime minister's family's international business assets in light of the Supreme Court’s April 20 judgment.
Also Read: Supreme Court ignoring JIT’s ‘biased’ attitude: Mussadiq Malik
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry, speaking to the media, said a smear campaign is being run against the JIT and the Supreme Court.
He said as per today’s proceedings, the court believes the person who leaked Hussain’s picture has been identified whereas the attorney general thinks the person’s name has not been mentioned by the JIT. Chaudhry said who is right will soon be cleared when the JIT’s report is released officially
At a previous hearing on Wednesday, Hassan's counsel Khawaja Harris reiterated his client’s plea that the JIT proceedings should not be recorded on video.
Supreme Court reserves decision on video recording of JIT proceedings
Also Read: Courts act on facts not suspicions: Hussain Nawaz
“JIT has no control on the CCTV cameras,” he said, commenting on the JIT's report on the issue which was submitted to the court on June 12.
Justice Khan had observed that recordings are carried out so as to maintain accurate transcripts, adding that the facts of the case are not being affected by the procedure. The nature of statements also does not change because of it, he commented further.
Also Read: Nothing in Hussain Nawaz's picture to be bickered about: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Justice Sheikh questioned the petitioner as to what damage the leaking of his picture had done to him? He further commented that the recording of proceedings will help him more than it can hurt him.
In his response to the JIT’s report over the leaked picture, Hussain had termed it a combination of contradictions.
Also Read: Hussain Nawaz appears before JIT for fifth time
In the response, the premier’s son alleged that the picture was leaked from the JIT’s side, adding that the control of the CCTV cameras is also with the JIT.
The response stated that the JIT in its response admitted to the court had confessed to leaking the picture. He also said that the name and designation of the person leaking the picture has been kept secret.
Regarding the leaking of Hussain’s picture, the JIT had said it took action within 24 hours of the picture’s circulation in the media. It stated that necessary action was taken against the official responsible for the leak, who was reverted to his parent department and punished accordingly.
Also Read: Hussain Nawaz submits petition in Supreme Court against leaked JIT picture
The picture, where Hussain can be seen sitting in what is reportedly the interrogation room of the JIT on May 28, went viral on social media after being leaked surreptitiously.
That was Hussain's first appearance before the JIT. He has since been summoned by the high-profile probe team for a total of five times.
