A two-person delegation comprising members of the Panama Papers joint investigation team (JIT) probing the Sharif family's alleged corruption have filed a request with the Supreme Court (SC) registrar to travel to Doha to record a Qatari royal's statement in connection with the case, a well-placed source privy to the development told DawnNews.

The team is planning to record the statement of Qatari prince Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani regarding the submission of his letter in the Supreme Court in connection with the Panamagate case and confirm the contents of his letter, the source said.

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In his letter, the prince had described his father’s business relations with the family of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his involvement in the London apartments that are at the centre of the Panama Papers controversy.

"It is crucial for the JIT members to receive the Supreme Court Panama implementation bench's approval to travel abroad," the source explained.

The JIT members are expected to receive the SC's approval on Monday (June 19) and depart immediately, the source said.

An SC bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal probing hurdles faced by the Panama JIT was scheduled to hear the case on Thursday morning at 11:30am, with Attorney General (AG) Ashtar Ausaf Ali answering on behalf of the government.

The JIT, however, sent a message to the SC saying that its members were occupied interviewing the prime minister and would not be available until 1:30 pm.

The AG explained that he was not available at the suggested time as he had a National Security Committee meeting to attend.

Justice Afzal postponed the hearing till Monday, which is also when the matter of the JIT members' departure to Qatar will be decided.