Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday ordered the formation of a five-member larger bench to hear review petitions filed by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his childrenand Finance Minister Ishaq Dar against the Panama Papers case verdict.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal heard arguments today from Salman Akram Raja and Khawaja Haris ─ the lawyers representing the Sharif children Hassan, Hussain and Maryam, and Nawaz Sharif respectively ─ on the review petitions.

During the hearing, Haris raised questions over the formation of a three-judge bench to hear the review petitions, whereas the final judgement in the Panama Papers case had been signed by five judges.

Raja also pleaded for the formation of a five-judge bench to hear the review petition against the July 28 SC verdict.

The court, after deliberating the matter, accepted Raja's plea and referred the matter to CJP Nisar, who then approved the formation of a larger bench to hear the review petitions.

A five-judge bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, comprising justices Gulzar Ahmed, Ejaz Afzal, Azmat Saeed and Ijazul Ahsan will hear the review petitions on Wednesday.