In a landmark and historic verdict of significant importance, the Supreme Court on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding public office for not being “honest and truthful” and owning assets beyond their declared sources of income in the Panama Papers case. The five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court unanimously announced the decision.
The decision brings Sharif’s third term in power to an unceremonious end. Ishaq Dar and Captain (retd.) Mohammad Safdar were also disqualified. SC has ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file references against Nawaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar and Captain Safdar within 6 weeks and to decide these cases within 6 months. References are also to be filed against Nawaz Sharif’s children. SC also ordered that all documents regarding Sharif family’s London flats should be sent to trial court for the hearing of reference. The Accountability Court should announce its verdict regarding the reference in six months.
All the political parties were waiting for the final verdict as the political stakes were so high. As was expected after the verdict all the political parties of opposition were jubilant and ruling party and its allies were in deep sorrow.
It is good omen that ruling party PMLN has accepted the Supreme Court’s verdict in Panama Papers case and as per party’s spokesperson verdict will be implemented despite severe reservations.
In our society, usually, lifestyle of influential public officials, politicians and businessmen don’t portray the real picture of their assets and they live beyond their legal source of income and wealth. We hope landmark judgment of Supreme Court would be the new beginning of across the board accountability in the country. We believe this verdict has already established the precedent to hold powerful accountable and we hope the Panama Papers case may further strengthen the system of accountability. People of this country, rich or poor, all deserve transparent and accountable leadership in all the public institutions.
We hope Supreme Court verdict would further strengthen system of accountability