Pakistan Supreme Court Disqualifies Prime Minister

Pakistan’s Supreme Court five-Judge Bench has disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office. This ruling comes after months of hearings in a case instigated by the “Panama Papers” leaks, related to alleged corruption during his previous two terms in office.

The five-Judge Bench ruled that:

“It is hereby declared that having failed to disclose his un-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from Capital FZE Jebel Ali, UAE in his nomination papers filed for the General Elections held in 2013 in terms of Section 12(2)(f) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 (ROPA), and having furnished a false declaration under solemn affirmation respondent No. 1 Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is not honest in terms of Section 99(f) of ROPA and Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and therefore he is disqualified to be a Member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament),” the Bench ruled, directing the Election Commission of Pakistan to immediately issue a notification disqualifying Mr. Sharif from being a Member of the Majlis-e-Shoora(Parliament).

Nawaz Sharif has stepped down from his post in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling.

Sharif and three of his children have been referred to a National Accountability court, which has been ordered to register corruption cases against them within six weeks.

The court also referred Ishaq Dar, the finance minister, who has served as Sharif’s accountant in the past, to the corruption court, along with other associates of Sharif.

In 2016, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists leaked 11.5 million documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, dubbed the Panama Papers.

Several documents included in the leak showed three of Sharif’s children – Hussain, Hasan and Maryam – owned at least three off-shore companies registered in the British Virgin Islands. The documents showed that these companies had engaged in deals worth $25m.

Nawaz Sharif named his brother Shahbaz, the chief minister of Punjab province, as his successor and nominated ex-oil minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as an interim premier.

Election Commission of Pakistan confirmed fresh elections would be held in Nawaz Sharif’s  constituency.

Mr Sharif’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz commands a majority in the 342-seat house.

Nawaz Sharif became the 15th prime minister in Pakistan’s 70-year history – roughly half of which was under military rule – to be ousted before completing a full term. Bribery and other forms of graft are endemic in Pakistan.