Justice (R) Ejaz Afzal Khan, one of the five Supreme Court judges on the Panama Papers bench, broke his silence on Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification, defending the decision and revealing new details about the case’s handling and the judiciary’s role.
For the first time, Justice Ejaz confirmed that the Supreme Court judges selected the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) members. He admitted to making a WhatsApp call and involving military officials to avoid potential interference by the PML-N government. The JIT members were chosen for their integrity, he explained, as the original nominees were seen as too “approachable.”
Justice Ejaz explained that Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification stemmed from failing to disclose a receivable salary from his son, which he was legally obligated to declare as an asset. The court found that the salary, accumulated over time, remained undisclosed until 2013, making it grounds for disqualification.
Regarding the judicial crisis and threats to the judiciary’s independence, Justice Ejaz stated that true judicial independence comes from a judge’s internal commitment to being free from influence, rather than any constitutional provision.
Justice Ejaz also recounted past encounters with military officials, confirming only one significant interaction, which he handled firmly, insisting on strict adherence to the law. He noted that while his decision on Nawaz’s disqualification was criticized, he believes it was based on solid legal grounds, challenging those who questioned it to first read the judgment in full.