Panama Papers Verdict highlights: Nawaz Sharif's brother Shehbaz to be next Prime Minister of Pakistan

Attempts to create a political crisis are being made, says Maulana Fazl-ur Rehman

“We thought there would be a pile of evidence but when the verdict came, the PM was disqualified over the basis of money he did not withdraw,” said Jamiat Ulema Islam-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur Rehman said in a press conference. According to  Geo TV , the leader said that development projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could also be undermined by the political turmoil.

Forget corruption optics, Nawaz Sharif paid price for challenging army’s authority

In one stroke of the pen, Pakistan Supreme Court has sent the country hurtling down the path to political instability. The import of Friday’s event will redefine parliamentary democracy in Pakistan for years to come. Five learned judges in a unanimous decision have removed an elected prime minister from the post even though he has not been convicted of any crime. This is as close to ’legal’ coup d’état as possible.

Full text of Pakistan Supreme Court’s order in the Panama Papers case

PML-N says Nawaz Sharif’s ouster was not based on Panama Papers

Geo News reported that PML-N lawmakers expressed reservations over the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and said that his removal was not on the basis of Panama Papers.

The PML-N leadership also said that it is likely that a review petition will be filed. “This decision is not acceptable and we will file a review petition in court,” said Saad Rafique.

Nawaz Sharif disqualified from National Assembly

Following the directives of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued a notification disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as a member of the National Assembly.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan hereby de-notify Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as Member National Assembly on Pakistan from Constituency No.NA-120 Lahore-III with immediate effect,” reads the ECP notification released by Dawn .

Former Iceland PM Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson too resigned because of the Panama Papers

Iceland’s prime minister was forced to resign in April, 2016 after documents appeared to reveal that he and his wife concealed millions of dollars’ worth of investments in an offshore company.

Edward Snowden tweets about the development in Pakistan

What "draining the swamp" actually looks like: Courts disqualify national leader—exposed as corrupt by journalists—from office for life. https://t.co/nEzTBCwST3

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) July 28, 2017

Who will succeed Shehbaz as Chief Minister of Punjab?

According to Geo News, Hamaz Shehbaz Sharif or Rana Sanaullah are likely to succeed Shehbaz as the Chief Minister of Punjab.

No interim prime minister announced yet

According to Geo News , a name has not been announced for the interim prime minister, who will fill the 45 day vacuum until Shehbaz Sharif is elected to a National Assembly seat.

As Shehbaz is not a member of the National Assembly, he would have to contest elections and there were reports that Khawaja Asif could be made interim prime minister.

In picture: Nawaz Sharif with his brother Shehbaz

Here’s a brief profile of Shehbaz

Chief minister of Pakistan’s most populous province, Shehbaz had held this position earlier from 1997 to 1999. Born on 23 September, 1951, the “astute businessman” began his political career as member of the Punjab Assembly in 1988. He became the Opposition leader of Punjab Assembly in 1993.

Shehbaz is considered to be a powerful administrator and began initiatives for Punjab province with emphasis on health, education and environment.

Nawaz Sharif’s brother Shehbaz Sharif declared next prime minister
 

Shahbaz Sharif to be new Pakistan PM. Shahbaz is the brother of ousted PM Nawaz Sharif.

— IndiaTodayFLASH (@IndiaTodayFLASH) July 28, 2017

Shehbaz Sharif is the new prime minister of Pakistan

According to India Today, Shehbaz Sharif has been declared the new prime minister of Pakistan.

During his tenure, Nawaz Sharif launched a number of development projects

During this tenure, Sharif launched a number of development projects including the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

His another major achievement was the launch of military operation Zarb-e-Azb in 2014 to flush out the militants from North Waziristan and South Waziristan — a hub of terrorism.

Here’s a brief history of Nawaz Sharif’s second term

Nawaz Sharif’s second term as prime minister from 1997 ended in 1999 when then powerful Army chief Pervez Musharraf staged a bloodless coup. In a dramatic fall from grace, Sharif ended up in jail, convicted of hijacking charges for trying to stop a plane carrying Musharraf from landing. He then went into exile in Saudi Arabia and did not return to Pakistan until 2007, when he teamed up with the PPP to force Musharraf from office.

Pakistan Army targetted Sharif, tweets Subramanian Swamy

All prominent Politicians of Pak have Panama Papers entries. But Pak Army targeted Sharif because it wants a jehadi PM not a rubber stamp

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) July 28, 2017

Senior Opposition politician Jehangir Tareen celebrates the dismissal

Forget corruption optics, Nawaz Sharif paid the price for challenging army’s authority

If leveling of charges are reason enough to depose the head of an elected government, it signifies further erosion of civilian authority in Pakistan in respect of not just the military establishment but also the judiciary. In fact, enough murmurs are rising about powerful generals, whose formidable presence marked the entire length of the high-profile case, having worked behind the scenes to influence the court decision.

With Sharif’s disqualification, new Pakistan in line: Imran Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan said that with Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification, the foundation of a new Pakistan, in line with the vision of the founders, has been laid.

“I don’t have any personal grudges against anyone, including Nawaz Sharif,” Khan, whose party had sought the disqualification of the prime minister, told reporters in Islamabad hours after the Supreme Court announced its verdict in the Panama Papers case.

IANS

Pakistan Opposition parties hail country’s army

PTI vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “let us take this moment to express gratitude to the armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies.”

Nawaz Sharif told the SC that he never drew any salary from Capital FZE
 

Nawaz Sharif told the SC that he never withdrew salary from Capital FZE - SC argued at length it was still an asset & needed to be disclosed pic.twitter.com/tIB4SBxfyR

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

Three incomplete tenures of turmoil defined Nawaz Sharif’s political career

Nawaz Sharif, known as the ‘Lion of Punjab’, became the Prime Minister of the politically unstable Pakistan for a record three times, but every time he was forced to quit in the middle of his term — first by the presidency, then the military and now the judiciary.

Sharif, who leads the country’s most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party, successfully managed to swim through all the “tsunamis” since he assumed power for the third term in June 2013, but a Supreme Court ruling against him in the Panamagate case struck a heavy blow to his career.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, chief of Awami Muslim league, celebrate the ouster

pic.twitter.com/6mZjQMiTCX

— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) July 28, 2017

Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification to weaken civilian rule in Pakistan

Sharif's disqualification as PM will weaken civilian rule in Pak: Experts

Read @ANI_news story | https://t.co/n64ejSjOfG pic.twitter.com/uhzblWV6Im

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) July 28, 2017

Another elected prime minister sent home: Maryam

Another elected prime minister has been “sent home”, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam said on Friday but asserted that her father’s disqualification by the Supreme Court would not deter him from staging a comeback. In her first reaction to the verdict in the Panama Papers scandal, she tweeted, “Today will pave the way for Nawaz Sharif’s resounding victory in 2018. He will be unstoppable. Insha’Allah. Rok sakte ho to rok lo (Stop him, if you can)!”

In picture: People celebrate the ouster of Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif learned secret companies won’t stay secret?

#PanamaPapers take down another leader: ???????? #Pakistan ’s Nawaz Sharif latest to learn secret companies won’t stay secret. #PanamaVerdict pic.twitter.com/et5UK82U3H

— Transparency Int’l (@anticorruption) July 28, 2017

Opposition supporters celebrate Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification

Opposition party politicians were elated as the Pakistan Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif on Friday, the media reported. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while addressing the press soon after the judgement, said: “It’s a historic day, let’s strengthen Pakistan, let’s get rid of terrorism from the country.”

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said: “All the Opposition parties played their part in this, but the credit does go to PTI and Imran Khan for taking this issue to court and fighting this long legal battle.”

In picture: Nawaz Sharif at the PML-N meeting

Hear Musharraf’s entire statement here:
 

Congratulate the Supreme Court, it's a historic day for Pakistan: Pervez Musharraf to CNN-News18 on #SharifSacked #PanamaVerdict pic.twitter.com/dg3l9p06D3

— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 28, 2017

Nawaz Sharif’s friendly overtures at cost of Pakistan: Musharraf

Nawaz Sharif’s friendly overtures to India and India’s prime minister wasn’t looked at in a good light in Pakistan, Musharraf told News18. He further said that India’s interference is not what the people of Pakistan want.

Today marks the end of Nawaz Sharif’s career: Pervez Musharraf

Former president Pervez Musharraf told CNN-News18 that it is a historic day for Pakistan and he congratulated the Supreme Court for the verdict. He gave the credit to the chief justice of Pakistan, the five-judge bench and also to Imran Khan’s movement.

He further said that today marks the end of Nawaz Sharif’s career. He told News18 that PML-N only got 13 percent of the votes, which means that either 87 percent didn’t vote at all or voted for someone else.

Nawaz Sharif will be unstoppable in 2018: Maryam

Today will pave the way for Nawaz Sharif's resounding victory in 2018. He will be unstoppable. Insha'Allah. Rok sakte ho to rok lo !

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 28, 2017

Imran Khan lauds the judiciary, says the entire nation is happy

Finally law has caught up with the powerful, I salute the judiciary, they are our heroes: Imran Khan #NawazSharif #PanamaVerdict

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2017

Poora mulk aaj khushi mana raha hai, kyunki hume lagta hai hum abhi aur mulkon ki tarah ab aage badh sakte hain: Imran Khan #NawazSharif

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2017

Can the military take over?

According to AFP, the military has been in charge of Pakistan for half of its 70-year history, but few expect the army to make an explicit bid for power again. The military already exerts control over foreign policy and defence, leading to accusations from some that it is carrying out a “creeping coup”.

Nawaz Sharif was disqualified because he failed to disclose income from Capital FZE

The SC disqualfied Nawaz Sharif from Parliament & thereby from the post of PM solely because he failed to disclose income from Capital FZE pic.twitter.com/u6dXpBM2kw

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

What happens now that Sharif has resigned?

Sharif will remain the head of PML-N and according to AFP, he will oversee the nomination of his successor who will then be rubber stamped in a parliamentary vote, where his party and coalition partners command a 209-seat majority in the 342-seat house

Who might succeed Nawaz Sharif?

Here then is a list of some of the names in the hat to replace Sharif and take over as interim prime minister:

Khawaja Asif: PTI had earlier stated that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif will most likely become the interim prime minister for 45 days till Shehbaz Sharif (Nawaz’s brother and Punjab province chief minister) is elected in by-polls

Shehbaz Sharif: As Shehbaz is not a member of the National Assembly, he would have to contest elections if he was chosen as Nawaz’s successor.

Read the full list here

Maryam Sharif tweets, PML-N stands united, more resolute and unfazed

PMLN stands united, more resolute & unfazed. That's also unprecedented. Alhamdolillah! pic.twitter.com/qwagGuDwzJ

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 28, 2017

Power to make party decisions remains with Nawaz Sharif: PML-N

As Opposition party leaders in Pakistan celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to disqualify Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office, ruling PML-N members expressed disappointment but said Sharif’s days are not over.

Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah, talking to the media outside the apex court, said: “This is a difficult time for the PML-N. But the power to make party decisions will remain with Nawaz Sharif.”

How Calibri font ’exposed’ Maryam Sharif

Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz is accused of document forgery in a corruption probe against the Sharif family. At the heart of the controversy was a typeface, if not for which, it would have been much more difficult to spot the forgery. 

Apparently, Microsoft’s Calibri font was used to type certified papers naming Maryam Nawaz as a trustee of several high-end flats in central London. However, the papers were dated a year before Calibri was in widespread commercial use, according to  _ Al Jazeera ._ 

“The properties, bought using offshore companies, are at the centre of a case against the Sharif family, with authorities and the opposition questioning the legitimacy of funds used to buy the apartments,” the report said.

The Joint Investigation Team, looking into the case, found that the documents were dated February 2006.

A timeline of events since Panama Papers case was uncovered

Full SC verdict on Panama papers Pages ( 13 to 25)

The SC verdict disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister and Ishaq Dar as Finance Minister in full (25 pages in all)

Pages 13-16 pic.twitter.com/DTVn0ORCt5

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

The SC verdict disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister and Ishaq Dar as Finance Minister in full (25 pages in all)

Pages 17-20 pic.twitter.com/20PfaQpYzi

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

The SC verdict disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister and Ishaq Dar as Finance Minister in full (25 pages in all) pic.twitter.com/i2awk9OSYn

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

The SC verdict disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister and Ishaq Dar as Finance Minister in full (25 pages in all)

Page 25 pic.twitter.com/gN14KKZkOS

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

Full SC verdict on Panama papers Pages (1 to 12)

The SC verdict disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister and Ishaq Dar as Finance Minister in full (25 pages in all)

Pages 1-4 pic.twitter.com/I0gfFgxVEa

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

The SC verdict disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister and Ishaq Dar as Finance Minister in full (25 pages in all)

Pages 5-8 pic.twitter.com/gY7xfBP1My

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

The SC verdict disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister and Ishaq Dar as Finance Minister in full (25 pages in all)

Pages 9-12 pic.twitter.com/3fskn6ot4J

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

No Pakistani PM has ever completed a full term: Here’s a quick look at the longest serving PMs

Protests across Lahore following SC’s Panamagate verdict

The Express Tribune, reported that supporters of PML-N took to the streets to protest, after Supreme Court’s damaging verdict on Nawaz. Peaceful protests were held in Lahore’s Data Darbar, Naseerabad, Mall Road areas where protestors also burnt tires, disrupting traffic.

With Sharif gone, army likely to install a puppet PM

Pakistan Supreme Court’s decision to remove Nawaz Sharif from office is likely to tighten the army’s grip over the country which has been ruled by the all-powerful military for almost the half of its 69 years of existence as a sovereign nation.

Sharif, whose position became increasingly untenable as investigation proceeded into the Panama Papers scandal, was perceived as being “soft” towards India and had been at loggerheads with the army generals numerous times over his determined efforts to establish the primacy of civilian rule over the military establishment. These were “unpardonable sins” in the army’s lexicon and speculation is rife that the generals, who have historically decided the country’s fate and policy direction, have worked behind the scenes to influence the unanimous Supreme Court decision.

In the near term, it is now almost certain that whoever succeeds Sharif from his ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, Islamabad’s apron strings will be tied to Rawalpindi.

Maryam Nawaz barred from contesting elections: India Today TV

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan advises Sharif to take decision lying down, says ‘I am through with politics’

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to accept whatever the Supreme Court verdict in the Panamagate case, hours before the verdict was out. He said that the apex court’s judgement must be accepted “whether one agrees with it or not,” in what he called the most difficult press conference of his career. 

The minister called his party, PML-N a national asset, adding that he would never leave the party or harm it’s interest. “I’m done with politics,” a dejected Nisar said.

Watch: ‘Go Nawaz go’ slogans raised outside SC after verdict

#WATCH: Scenes outside Supreme Court of Pakistan after Nawaz Sharif's disqualification as PM; 'Go Nawaz Go' slogans raised #PanamaVerdict pic.twitter.com/S5f1wR0bi2

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2017

Talks to pick Nawaz’s successor on

Sharif still has about a year left in office and the efforts to pick his successor are on. Sharif’s party, PML-N has no succesor is in place right now, however, media reports suggest that Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif could be picked as an interim chief minsiter. 

In the meantime, Sharif’s brother Shahbaz Sharif, who is the Punjab Province’s chief minister will be will be elected as the premier.

Irony strikes again

As journalist Omar R Qureshi pointed out, it builds a stark irony that Sharif started his political career as a prodigy of General Zia-ul-Haq. Today, he lost power due to a law brought in by the military leader. 

Party support surges for Nawaz: Marriyum Aurangzeb says Sharif continues to rule people’s hearts Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Nawaz Sharif can’t be removed from the heart’s of poeple. “Nawaz Sharif is a reality. PML-N is a reality. It is Pakistan’s biggest political party. History is witness to this: whenever Nawaz Sharif has been removed from the political landscape, he has been brought back into the parliament in bigger force by the support of the people,” she said.

Party support surges for Nawaz: Marriyum Aurangzeb says Sharif continues to rule people’s hearts

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Nawaz Sharif can’t be removed from the heart’s of poeple. 

“Nawaz Sharif is a reality. PML-N is a reality. It is Pakistan’s biggest political party. History is witness to this: whenever Nawaz Sharif has been removed from the political landscape, he has been brought back into the parliament in bigger force by the support of the people,” she said.

Nawaz Sharif steps down as Prime Minsiter of Pakistan

#NawazSharif steps down as Prime Minister of Pakistan after Supreme Court's verdict on Panama Papers: Pakistan Media (File Pic) pic.twitter.com/xfeQ7ypEqd

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2017

Sharif’s assets include four expensive flats in London

The Supreme Court ordered that the cases against them be registered within six weeks and trial be completed within six months. The scandal is about alleged money laundering by Sharif in 1990s, when he twice served as prime minister, to purchase assets in London. The assets surfaced when Panama Papers leak last year revealed that they were managed through offshore companies owned by Sharif’s children.

The assets include four expensive flats in London. Sharif has been the prime minister of Pakistan for a record three times. He leads Pakistan’s most powerful political family and the ruling PML-N party.

Next elections scheduled for 2018

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Captain Safdar, who is an Member of National Assembly (MNA), also stood disqualified from office, Justice Khan said. However, it was unclear as to who will take over the post till the next general elections, which are scheduled for 2018.

“He is disqualified as a member of the parliament so he has ceased to be holding the office of Prime Minister,” Justice Khan said. The court ordered Election Commission to issue a notification for Sharif’s disqualification. The court also ordered the National Accountability Court to start a corruption case against Sharif, his children –Hussain and Hassan — and his daughter Maryam.

No consensus on the new Prime Minister

Nawaz Sharif’s two previous stints in power were also cut short, including by a military coup in 1999, but he came back from exile to win a resounding victory in the 2013 general elections. His ruling PML-N party, which has a majority in the parliament, is now expected to appoint a new prime minister.

The Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in a swipe at Sharif, tweeted, “Godfather’s Rule has ended for good! Truth & Justice have prevailed!” The prime minister was disqualified from holding his office as the judges ruled that he had been dishonest to Parliament and the courts and could not be deemed fit for his office.

No Pakistan Prime Minister has ever completed full five-year term

The decision brings to an unceremonious end Sharif’s third term in power, roughly one year before scheduled general elections which would have seen him become the first Pakistani prime minister to complete a full five-year term.

Imran Khan likely to emerge as the biggest beneficiary

It took four years and 54 days for the latest Pakistan prime minister to get booted out of office, only this time the marching orders were given not by its all-powerful army but the judiciary.

With today’s verdict — unanimous in a five-judge Supreme Court bench — the ‘record’ of not a single Pakistani prime minister being able to complete his five-year term remains intact and the country again lurches towards an extended period of political instability till fresh elections are held in mid-2018. The government, however, could go in for a snap poll.

The verdict was on expected lines as investigation into the 2015 Panama Papers scandal threw up damning links of the entire Sharif clan (PM, daughter Maryam, sons Hussain, Hasan and even son-in-law Captain Safdar) with offshore companies owning properties in London. The judges were acting on a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, who had been dogged in his pursuance of the case against Sharif and his family and is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the latest political churning.

Sharif’s allies have alleged there was a conspiracy to unseat him

“This is not accountability, it is revenge,” tweeted Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq hours before the verdict was announced. “In an effort dislodge us, the democratic system has been made a target.”

Criminal investigation filed against Nawaz Sharif

The Supreme Court dismissed Sharif after an investigative panel alleged his family could not account for its vast wealth. The court also ordered a criminal investigation against the premier and his family. “He is no more eligible to be an honest member of the parliament, and he ceases to be holding the office of prime minister,” Judge Ejaz Afzal Khan said in court.

Sharif, 67, has always denied any wrongdoing and has dismissed the investigation into him as biased and inaccurate.

Powerful generals of Pakistan army behind Sharif’s disqualification?

Friday’s ruling is most likely to shift Pakistan’s political balance. Sharif’s disqualification order came a year before his term was to end. The New York Times report said, “The verdict means the governing political party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, must choose an interim prime minister to replace Sharif until the next general election, which is scheduled for mid-2018.”

Several reports and experts have said that Pakistan military, “which has traditionally decided the fate of civilian governments”, could have been responsible for the judgment.

Godfather's Rule has ended for good!
Truth & Justice have prevailed!

Allah Al Haq hai! #انصاف_کی_جیت pic.twitter.com/5ENNwr9b0L

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 28, 2017

Indian journalists weigh in

Unique "democracy" Pakistan. Where no elected govt completes full term and a rare Army chief retires on due date. A sad joke #NawazSharif

— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) July 28, 2017

The Federal Cabinet stands dissolved as well -- cannot function in the absence of a Prime Minister -- New PM will bring his'her own cabinet

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 28, 2017

Sharif cannot contest election for the next five years

The disqualification means that Nawaz Sharif cannot contest election or hold party office at least for next five years. Also, he is the second prime minister to leave office after the Iceland PM in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal.

‘Historic decision’:  PTI general secretary Jahangir Tareen

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf general secretary Jahangir Tareen called the Supreme Court’s decision ‘a historic decision’. Geo News reported that speaking outside the Supreme Court, Tareen said : “A new chapter of history has been written today and decision came through the efforts of Imran Khan, PTI workers and supporters,” he said and added, “Pakistanis had lost hope for justice but Imran Khan was the lone person who did not lose hope.”

Third time since PM was unable to complete his term

This is the third time the prime minister has been unable to complete his term in the chief executive’s office. It is unclear at the moment who will be appointed to take over the post till the next general elections, which are scheduled for 2018.

Open cases against Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz: Supreme Court

Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, who headed the implementation bench, said all material collected by the Joint Investigation Team would be sent to an accountability court within six weeks. He said cases should be opened against Maryam Nawaz (Sharif’s daughter), Captain Muhammad Safdar (Maryam’s husband), Hassan and Hussain Nawaz (PM Sharif’s sons) as well as Prime Minister Sharif and a judgement should be announced within 30 days.

The five-judge bench announced the much-awaited verdict in Courtroom No. 1 of the Supreme Court in Islamabad.

Experts say ruling is judicial coup

Experts speaking to News18, called the judgment a judicial coup as few analysts questioned Supreme Court’s judgment which passed the ruling even without a trial. Speaking to News18, experts said that based on a JIT report, how can a court of law sack a prime minister?

This is the third time the prime minister has been unable to complete his term in the chief executive’s office. It is unclear as of the moment who will be appointed to take over the post till the next general elections, which are scheduled for 2018.

Just as I forecast : Legal Coups are ouster tools in post coup Pakistan as the military seizes power without having to grab it #NawazSharif https://t.co/BkkveXEJli

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 28, 2017

#PanamaVerdict: Scenes outside Supreme Court of Pakistan after Sharif's disqualification as PM #SharifSacked | ANIhttps://t.co/IUXwR3EQ0C pic.twitter.com/Vxh5iknr2T

— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 28, 2017

Judgment was unanimous 

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 his office.

The judgement was unanimous.

Judgment should be announced within 30 days

Pakistan Supreme Court Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, who headed the apex court’s implementation bench following its 20 April order on the case said that the bench had recommended that all material collected by the joint investigation team would be sent to an accountability court within six weeks. 

The bench also said that the cases would be opened against Captain Muhammad Safdar, Maryam, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz as well as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. A judgement should be announced within 30 days, he said.

Ram Madhav tweets

While there is a huge uproar and backlash in Pakistan over the Supreme Court’s order, here in India, BJP leader Ram Madhav tweeted: 

Pak on d brink again. Military raj to return?

— Ram Madhav (@rammadhav_) July 28, 2017

Sharif laundered money in 1990s

The Panama Papers scandal is about alleged money laundering by Sharif in 1990s, when he twice served as prime minister, to purchase assets in London. The assets surfaced when Panama Papers leak last year revealed that they were managed through offshore companies owned by Sharif’s children. The assets include four expensive flats in London.

Sharif, who has been the prime minister of Pakistan for a record three time, feared the risk of being disqualified if the court finds him guilty of corruption and money laundering.

#BREAKING -- Pakistan Supreme Court disqualifies Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister. Criminal case to be filed against Sharif #PanamaVerdict pic.twitter.com/pP7LFUlnss

— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 28, 2017