Panama Papers verdict: Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam says ex-Pakistan PM will stage comeback

Islamabad: 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)!"

File image of Maryam Sharif. Twitter @MaryamNSharif

Maryam, 43, is seen by many as a political heir to the veteran politician and three-time premier of Pakistan. She has vigorously defended Sharif during the Panama papers probe. The Panama papers scandal is about alleged money laundering by Sharif in the 1990s, when he twice served as prime minister, to purchase assets in London. The assets surfaced when Panama Papers leak in 2016 revealed that they were managed through offshore companies owned by Sharif's two sons and daughter, Maryam. "Another elected prime minister sent home, but only to see him return with greater force and support and soonest Insha'Allah," she said in another tweet.

The apex court verdict in the Panama Papers scandal came as a setback for Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), threatening a revolt within the ruling party.

But Maryam said: "PML-N stands united, more resolute and unfazed. That's also unprecedented."

When a follower tweeted her that the supporters of Sharif were disappointed, Maryam wrote back: "Kion ghum main hain (Why are they sad)? Not the first time your leader had to face ouster and trial. Every such act has made him stronger. History bears witness."

Here is a timeline of how the Panama Papers unravelled Nawaz Sharif's corruption: