COURT WANTS PROBE OF ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PM SHARIF’S FAMILY

Pakistan’s top court asked the government on Thursday to investigate corruption allegations against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family, delaying for two months a decision that could have jeopardized his political future.

The Supreme Court had been expected to announce punitive measures against Sharif’s family or the prime minister himself, which would have put him under significant pressure. In 2012, the same court convicted then-premier Yusuf Raza Gilani in a contempt case, forcing him to step down.

The court acted on petitions from opposition lawmakers dating back to documents leaked in 2016 that indicated Sharif’s sons owned offshore companies.