ISLAMABAD -  Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan yesterday accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of using tactics to delay the investigations into Panama Leaks case being held under the Supreme Court.

Imran Khan said that the apex court wanted to decide the case at earliest but PM Nawaz Sharif was using tactics to delay the probe regarding charges against him and his family over the Panama Papers.

While talking to reporters at his Bani Gala residence after the hearing of Supreme Court in this connection, the PTI chief also raised questions about the timeline of ownership of the Sharif family’s Mayfair properties.

“Nawaz Sharif had claimed seven months ago that he was ready for his accountability (over Panama Leaks) along with all proofs, his family was ready for the accountability but now this has transpired that he is not ready for accountability,” he said. He said that Sharif family’s counsel did not submit relevant documents with the apex court even on Monday and sought two weeks’ time to prolong the case.

To prove his point of view, Imran Khan said that Sharif family wanted to broaden the scope of investigation by dragging the names of more persons into the controversy to delay the investigations. “SC today said that PM was the first among equals,” he said, adding that Sharif family would have to reply over these charges.

“I am happy that SC directed (counsel of Sharif family) that documents/replies should be submitted by next Tuesday. Sc has observed that if Nawaz Sharif and his family used to give answers of its four questions then even it might decide the case in two hearings,” he said.

“The SC observed that then perhaps there should be no need to form a commission to probe the case.”

He congratulated the nation for this observation of the apex court and declared this as his victory. “I am happy over the remarks of SC that it would not take this case too long,” he said.

Imran Khan said that PTI would not act in a way that would affect the proceedings of SC in this case. “They have given reply that Maryam Nawaz daughter of PM is not dependent of Prime Minister and we will give our reply that she is dependent,” he added.

Giving the timeline of ownership of Mayfair apartments of Sharif family in UK, he said the claims of the Sharif family were wrong that these were bought in 2006. Quoting remarks of close aides of the Prime Minister including Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board Siddique ul Farooq, he said that all had claimed that these properties were bought in 90’s. First lady Kalsoom Nawaz herself in an interview, given in 2000, said that these properties were bought for the education of children. “Then how these were bought in 2006,” he questioned. “I am embarrassed that I also had held a protest in front of Mayfair apartments in 1998. If they weren’t theirs, I don’t know whose residence I protested outside,” he added. He quoted chief of Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed as saying that he had also visited these apartments before 2006. “Perhaps, we all were misunderstood,” he joked at Sharif family.

Imran Khan remarked that SC endorsed his remarks about the failure of state institutions in dispensing justice to the masses when it said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had surrendered despite having all powers to act against corruption. He also condemned Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry for visiting China at a time when the SC was hearing the Panama case and it might need the bureau’s assistance.

Rebutting criticism from certain quarters for his Islamabad lockdown plan, he said they had no option other than this as the Prime Minister neither was presenting himself for accountability nor ready to resign for the last seven months.

Responding to a question about his offshore company, he said tat he never remained a public office holder and he owned a flat in UK in 1983. “The money was raised for Shukat Khanim Memorial Hospital seven years later,” he said. He declined comments about a controversy of two different dates of his marriage with his former spouse Reham Khan.

Replying other questions, Imran Khan said that they were ready for accountability but only after the accountability of Prime Minister. SC has also endorsed our point of view that a commission under 1956 Inquiries Act would have been toothless, he said. He said that PTI stood by the opposition parties over the Panama Leaks and got developed consensus TORs but were forced to come on roads when the PM showed his reluctance to present himself for accountability. “A cabinet member of Nawaz Sharif advised him to drag the issue more and the people would forget it,” he said.