Panamagate Case: Sharif steps down as Pak PM after SC verdict

Islamabad  : Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stepped down from his post on Friday, hours after the country's Supreme Court delivered a guilty verdict against him and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in connection with the Panama Papers Leaks case.

 Geo News quoted a PML-N spokesman, as saying that the Supreme Court of Pakistan's order to disqualify Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, required both of them to step down from their respective offices.

Announcing their verdict in the Panama Papers case, all five judges ruled to send a reference against the premier, his three children and others to an accountability court.

The court ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference against the accused in an accountability court in six weeks and directed for the trial to be wrapped up within six months.

According to sources, Nawaz Sharif is chairing a meeting to decide on the appointment of a new premier.

Sharif expressed sorrow over the Supreme Court's decision, sources told Geo News.

Sharif is likely to make the decision to appoint a new prime minister after consulting with legal experts, sources added.

Earlier, legal aides, advisers and federal ministers were present at the PM House where Sharif heard the verdict of the Panama Papers case.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Governors of Sindh and Khyber



Pakhtunkhwa were also present in the meeting.

PML-N leaders - before the verdict's announcement - stated that the government wants the Parliament to complete its tenure.

The ruling party put up a brave front by emphatically stating that disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's political career was far from over and predicted that he would bounce back from the adverse verdict delivered by the Supreme Court with regard to the Panama Papers Leaks case.

While admitting that it was a difficult time for the PML-N and expressing awarenesss about the opposition being in celebratory mode over the verdict, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was quoted by the Dawn, as saying, "This is a difficult time for the PML-N. But the power to make party decisions will remain with Nawaz Sharif."

State Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was quoted, as saying, "Nawaz does not neeed a chair, he is a reality. That day is not far, when he will be chosen for the fourth time."

Aurangzeb added: "Some decisions happen in court, others in peoples courts. We may have lost one decision... which I am not surprised about but am saddened."

"PML-N is Pakistan's biggest political party. It has the higest number of political workers. And history is a witness that whenever Nawaz Sharif was removed unjustly, the people of Pakistan brought him back to parliament with a greater majority."

She also said that the party will announce its plan after looking at the decision in detail.