Justice (Retd.) Ejaz Afzal Khan recently defended his role in the Panama Papers case, which resulted in former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification.
ustice (Retd.) Ejaz Afzal Khan confirmed that Supreme Court judges selected the members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to prevent government interference and ensure a thorough investigation.
In his first detailed public commentary since retiring in May 2018, Justice Afzal highlighted the judicial processes and challenges they encountered during the investigation. He revealed that including military officers in the JIT aimed to preserve the integrity of the investigative process, addressing potential biases from the significant influence of the Sharif family.
Justice Afzal emphasized the judiciary’s independence, suggesting that selecting JIT members via a WhatsApp call was a strategic move to protect the objectivity of the investigation against potential political pressure. He refuted claims of personal involvement in making the call, explaining that it was handled through proper judicial channels to request a list of reliable officials from various departments.
This rare insight into the judicial considerations behind one of Pakistan’s most consequential legal decisions underscores the complexities of ensuring justice in politically sensitive cases. Justice Afzal’s remarks also shed light on the ongoing challenges within Pakistan’s legal system, where maintaining judicial independence against pervasive political influences remains a critical concern.
