Pakistan’s prime minister quits over corruption claims
Pakistan’s prime minister Nawaz Sharif has stepped down after the supreme court disqualified him from holding office over allegations of corruption.
A five-judge panel ordered criminal charges to be filed against him and his family.
The ruling comes after the 2015 Panama Papers leak linked Mr Sharif’s children to offshore companies.
The court said in a unanimous decision that Mr Sharif was disqualified for not remaining “truthful and honest” after considering evidence against him.
It also ruled that thriceelected Mr Sharif could no longer serve as a member of the National Assembly, a powerful lower house of the parliament.
The court directed the country’s anti-corruption body to file corruption charges against Mr Sharif, his two sons and daughter in the next six weeks for concealing their assets.
The panel also ordered corruption charges filed against finance minister Ishaq Dar, a close relative of Mr Sharif.
Mr Sharif’s party expressed its disappointment over the court order.
Information minister Maryam Aurangzeb said their Pakistan Muslim League ruling party will issue a detailed reaction after consulting Mr Sharif ’s advisers.
The court asked president Mamnoon Hussain to “ensure continuation of the democratic process”.
Mr Hussain is expected to convene the National Assembly once Mr Sharif’s ruling party nominates his successor.
After the court’s ruling, Mr Sharif consulted party leaders on nominating a candidate to replace him. That person will serve as prime minister until March 2018, when the next general elections will be held.
The supreme court asked the election commission of Pakistan to issue notification of Mr Sharif ’s removal.
However, Mr Sharif quickly stepped down, saying he did it to show respect for the country’s judiciary. In a statement, Mr Sharif ’s office said justice had not been served.
His resignation has created a murky legal mess with constitutional experts at a loss to explain who is in charge in Pakistan until his successor is nominated.
Opposition MPS, who petitioned the court for the disqualification of Mr Sharif, welcomed the decision, saying it was a victory for justice.
Opposition leader Imran Khan congratulated the nation over Mr Sharif ’s removal and announced a celebration of the legal battle against the “corrupt ruling elite” would be held in Islamabad on Sunday. Mr Sharif ’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz said in a tweet that the prime minister was sent home, “but only to see him return with greater force”.