SHAHBAZ SHARIF
PAKISTAN PM GETS THE BOOT IN PANAMA PAPERS CASE SC ORDERS A CORRUPTION CASE AGAINST SHARIF, CHILDREN FINANCE MINISTER ALSO SACKED FROM OFFICE
Born in Lahore in 1950, Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif. He is considered a competent administrator and a determined character. A workaholic, Shahbaz is an influential businessman and CM of Punjab province.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was on Friday disqualified by the Supreme Court in the Panama leaks scandal. The Supreme Court disqualified Prime Minister Sharif in connection with Panama Papers case under Article 62 and directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to issue his disqualification notification. Mr Sharif however, quit minutes before the ECP issued the notification.
The five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan unanimously announced the decision.
PM Sharif is no more truthful and honest as he failed to prove his assets of 2013, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan told the packed courtroom. “It is hereby declared that having failed to disclose his un-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from Capital FZE Jebel Ali, UAE in his nomination papers filed for the General Elections held in 2013 in terms of Section 12(2)(f) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 (ROPA), and having furnished a false declaration under solemn affirmation respondent No. 1 Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is not honest in terms of Section 99(f) of ROPA and Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and therefore he is disqualified to be a Member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament),” the judge said, announcing the unanimous decision.
He also ordered to file reference in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in six weeks to investigate matter against Nawaz Sharif and his children. The court also ordered to file reference against Mohammed Safdar, the son-in-law of Mr Sharif.
He also directed Nawaz Sharif to immediately leave the premiership and also asked President Mamnoon Hussain to ensure smooth democratic system in the country. “The honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan is requested to nominate a judge of this Court to supervise and monitor implementation of this judgment in letter and spirit and oversee the proceedings conducted by NAB and the Accountability Court in the above mentioned matters,” he announced.
According to the PM’s house, Nawaz Sharif stepped down from his post ‘despite reservations’ while Federal Cabinet has also been dissolved.
The decision had been reserved on July 21.