Panamacase verdict announced: PM disqualified
Friday, July 28th, 2017 12:43:40 by fatimaarshadThe Supreme Court of Pakistan has announced the most awaited decision of this year and ordered the disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The SC had reserved the verdict of the case last week and announced yesterday that it would be read out on Friday at 11:30 am. The verdict was announced by the original five-member bench that heard the Panama Papers case from January this year.
The bench comprises Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, and Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
The verdict was read out by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan.
All of the judges ruled to register a case against the premier and ordered sending a reference against the premier and his family to an accountability court. The National Accountability Bureau was also ordered to file the reference in an accountability court in six weeks and for the case to be completed within six months.
Reference will also be filed against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and MNA Capt. (retd) Safdar, who is Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law.
A number of leaders from different political parties including Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq, among others, had come to the court in anticipation of the decision.
As soon as the decision was announced, members of the opposition parties started celebrating and distributing sweetmeats.
Strict security measures were in place in Islamabad’s Red Zone area, in anticipation of the decision. Around 3,000 personnel belonging from the Frontier Constabulary, Islamabad Police, and Punjab Rangers deployed for the purpose.
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