Nation on edge over Sharif judgement
islamabad/karachi — A looming Supreme Court decision that could disqualify Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over corruption allegations had the country on edge on Wednesday, as a drawn-out investigation related to the “Panama Papers” leaks neared a conclusion.
Disqualifying Sharif would leave his party in power, but it would cause intense turmoil at a time when Pakistan is experiencing modest growth and improved security after years of violence, and the civilian government and powerful military have appeared to come to uneasy terms.
Sharif has denied any wrongdoing, but the Supreme Court agreed to investigate his family’s offshore wealth late last year after opposition leader Imran Khan threatened street protests.
There is no chance that decision will come against our leadership. Our government and entire leadership are performing their duties as per routine Talal Chaudhry, PML-N leader
The Supreme Court could take a range a of steps.
It could clear the prime minister, or order a further judicial commission of inquiry or even declare him ineligible to hold office, as it did in 2012 with then-Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani over a contempt of court case.
Both the government and opposition expressed confidence on Wednesday.
“There is no chance that decision
imran Khan has clearly stated that we will accept the couty decision, but we believe enough evidence has been presented to remove the pM Naeem-ul-Haque, PTI spokesman
will come against our leadership. Our government and entire leadership are performing their duties as per routine,” Talal Chaudhry a prominent leader of Sharif ’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz told Geo Television.
Naeem-ul-Haque, a spokesman for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) said he expected a verdict against Sharif, but he made clear the opposition would not launch a new street movement if they were disappointed.
“Imran Khan has clearly stated that we will accept the decision of the Supreme Court, but we believe that enough evidence has been presented to remove the prime minister and that a verdict should be reached that is based on the evidence,” he said.
In 2014, Khan led a months-long protest that paralysed the government quarter in the capital, Islamabad, after rejecting Sharif ’s decisive election win a year earlier.
The case stems from documents leaked from the Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm appeared to show that Sharif ’s daughter and two sons owned offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands and used them to buy properties in London. —