Islamabad (Staff Report): Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and ordered him to leave the office immediately.
The original five-member bench of the Supreme Court, comprises Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, which heard the Panama Papers case announced the verdict on Friday in Courtroom 1.
Supreme Court Justice Asif Saeed Khosa initiated announcing the court’s verdict on the Panama Papers case about 12:03pm.
Apologising for the delay, he gave the podium to Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, who headed the implementation bench.
Justice Khan said all material collected by the JIT would be sent to an accountability court within six weeks, and a judgement should be announced within 30 days.
The prime minister was additionally disqualified from holding his office. The judges ruled that the prime minister had been dishonest to parliament and the courts and could not be deemed fit for the prime minister’s office.
"Nawaz Sharif is not "Sadiq" and "Ameen" and could not be deemed fit for the prime minister’s office," the judges declared unanimously.
The court ordered the National Accountability Bureau to file a reference against the accused in an accountability court in six weeks and directed for the trial to be wrapped up within six months.
The Election Commission of Pakistan was also ordered to issue the notification declaring the prime minister's disqualification.
The reference will also be filed against the finance minister and MNA Capt (retd) Safdar, the premier's son-in-law.
The court has also disqualified Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Capt Safdar.
The petitioners included Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed and Jamaat-e-Islami head Sirajul Haq while the respondents include the prime minister, his family members, and several government officials and departments.
